Things are just not getting any better for Ruben Amorim at Manchester United.
After a spirited 2-1 home win over Chelsea and a demand that his players not allow their momentum to drop, the Red Devils delivered another wretched performance as they lost 3-1 at Brentford.
Even accounting for the clear error by the match officials and VAR not to send off Nathan Collins, after which Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty, it would be unjust to say United deserved much from the game. And the result means Amorim has still failed to win two or more Premier League games in a row after nearly 11 months in the job.
It looked like the writing was on the wall when United were outplayed by League Two Grimsby Town before losing that Carabao Cup tie on penalties, but they battled to a 3-2 home win over Burnley just before the September international break to buy the head coach time. Any suggestion they had turned a corner was quashed on September 14 as they lost the Manchester derby 3-0, but again, they responded positively to defeat Chelsea. After their latest embarrassment at Brentford, the pattern suggests they may beat promoted Sunderland in a week's team before the small matter of a trip to Anfield to face the champions.
It seems remarkable that there was an air of positivity around the Red Devils six weeks ago following a largely good preseason and an enterprising performance in a 1-0 loss to Arsenal. An insipid draw at Fulham and their humiliation at Grimsby marked something of a turning point for Amorim, with some fans, the majority of whom had been unequivocal in their backing of the manager, now wondering whether he should continue.
Amorim said there would be a time to "think" during the September international break. For now, he remains in the job. How much longer will this continue, though? The Sporting News examines the latest.
MORE: Ruben Amorim's awful Man United record | How much it would cost to sack Amorim
Has Ruben Amorim been sacked?
As of October 3, Amorim remains in charge of Manchester United's men's first team, and there is little reason to think things will change imminently.
It has been reported that Amorim retains the backing of United's hierarchy, who are determined to give him as much time as possible to prove himself — the entire 2025/26 season, ideally.
The club was largely silent immediately after the Grimsby debacle on whether they backed the Portuguese to turn things around, but that is no great surprise: they wanted the dust to settle before offering any indications over their next move. Simon Stone of the BBC reported later on August 28 that Amorim still had the backing of the club's hierarchy, although it felt notable that the club's official X account did not post anything for more than 24 hours after the Grimsby loss.
Amorim's post-game comments in which he claimed "Sometimes, I hate my players" did not exactly engender confidence that he would turn things around, but there was at least a response as United battled to a 3-2 victory over Burnley at the end of August. Yet that 3-0 loss at Man City made sure there was no chance of positivity building at the club.
The pattern was repeated as they won a crazy game over Chelsea only to produce another listless away performance against Brentford.
Ruben Amorim latest news, updates: Coach doubles down on system defence
Speaking before United's league game with Sunderland on October 4, Amorim was once again defiant in the face of calls for him to change his tactics.
"You cannot run away from the results," he said. "And then you have the baggage from last season, but last season, for me, doesn't matter. In relation to this season, we already spoke about that.
"We've had six games this season and we lost three, and then we have to look to the games that we lost: [did we lose] against Arsenal because of the system? It's your job to make the opinion. When you look at the game against City, was the first thing you think, when the game starts, the system? I think you don't think about the system in that moment. And Brentford? I don't look at the way we concede goals, the way we create chances. [It] is nothing to do with the system. That is my opinion. And I'm not saying that this team would play better in a different system or not, that is not my point. My point is that if I look at the games that we didn't win, the most important thing when I watch the game is not that we lost the game because of the system. That is my opinion. Then people have different opinions and that is okay.
"It was [disjointed against Brentford]. It was. It was. But again, you cannot say one thing that doesn't work when it works on one weekend, and on the other weekend it doesn't. When one thing doesn't work, it doesn't work every day. But when one thing works one day, and then another day doesn't work, the other day works really well again, it's something about the way we do the same thing. So, we need to do the same thing in the same way every day, and we are not doing that. That is my opinion. Some of you guys have a different opinion and that is okay."
Amorim spoke to reporters the day before United's league game with Burnley and admitted there are times he wants to walk out on the club, only for his mood to change.
"Sometimes I want to quit, sometimes I want to be here for 20 years. Sometimes I love to be with my players, sometimes I don't want to be with them. So, again, I need to improve on that. It's going to be hard. But now I'm good with the next one."
Amorim had made absolutely no secret of his anger at his team's performance against Grimsby, whether he was speaking to national broadcasters or the club's own TV channel.
Evidently trying to keep his anger in check, Amorim told ITV that he was "shocked" by what he had seen, and suggested his future was in doubt because "you can feel that something has to change and you are not going to change 22 players again".
He also seemed to accuse his players of not being up for the fight, or perhaps being incapable of performing to his expectations amid the heavy scrutiny on everything connected to United. "We know that in the moment, people will pay attention to everything, it's massive — every detail," he said. "We showed that performance today. My players spoke for me, really loud."
Ruben Amorim's domestic record at Manchester United ✍️ pic.twitter.com/KvQznJBlNQ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 28, 2025
Could Ruben Amorim resign?
It has been suggested Amorim could take matters into his own hands at quit United. He's considered it before.
In an interview conducted during United's 2025 preseason tour, Amorim confessed there was a time last season when he considered handing in his resignation. After they lost the Europa League final to Tottenham in May, the coach said he would walk away without severance pay if it was felt he was not the right man for the role, saying: "If the board and the fans feel that I am not the right guy, I will go the next day without any conversation about compensation."
Amorim's remarks after the Grimsby defeat left some wondering if he may make good on that suggestion and resign. That said, he has previously admitted to letting emotions get the better of him immediately after matches and that he sometimes wished he was more reserved in his comments, so perhaps his outburst should not be taken too seriously.
Ruben Amorim record at Man United
Amorim's record in nearly 10 months in charge makes for sorry reading. In 39 domestic games (those in the Premier League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup), he has won only 10 times. He has a further eight wins in the Europa League thanks to last season's run to the final, but his overall win percentage at United is just 36.5% — almost exactly half his win rate at former club Sporting CP.
You can read more in-depth Amorim stats right here. They do not paint a positive picture.
Who could be Man United's next manager?
United's INEOS decision-makers certainly do not want to change manager for the second time in less than a year, but there is no doubt that, if they feel it's necessary, they will act.
The question of where they would turn next is a difficult one. Gareth Southgate is a name often mentioned in connection with United given his links with some of INEOS' power-brokers, but the club are said to have some doubts over former England boss' credentials back in club football.
Indykaila claimed United have earmarked Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, as two top candidates to succeed Amorim. Both have Premier League experience and have worked wonders at their current clubs, so the attraction would seem obvious.
Michael Carrick, the former United midfielder and interim manager, has also been linked with the job. Carrick was sacked by Championship side Middlesbrough in June after failing in their promotion push, so he would be a low-cost option, even if only as an interim choice.
Other names thrown around have been linked before, such as Ipswich Town manager and ex-United assistant Kieran McKenna, Real Madrid great Zinedine Zidane, and ex-Barcelona head coach Xavi. None of those feels likely to happen at this stage, though.