Ruben Amorim: Manchester United questioned by Joe Cole, Martin Keown for ‘messy’ managerial appointment
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Updated 02/11/2024 at 13:05 GMT
Joe Cole feels Manchester United's transition between the dismissal of Erik ten Hag and arrival of Ruben Amorim has been "messy and strange". Amorim was confirmed as the new United boss on Friday but he won't manage his first game until late November and said he had asked the Red Devils to delay his arrival until the end of the 2024/25 season.
Amorim appointment at Man Utd is 'messy' - Cole
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TNT Sports expert Joe Cole lamented Manchester United's handling of the managerial transition as "messy", after incoming boss Ruben Amorim said he wanted to stay at Sporting CP until the summer.
Amorim, who has earned two Primeira Liga titles with the Portuguese club, was announced as Erik ten Hag's permanent successor on Friday, after the Dutchman was relieved of his duties despite signing a two-year contract in July.
Speaking in his post-match press conference on Friday, Amorim, said that he requested to the United hierarchy that he could wait until the end of the season before taking over at Old Trafford, but was informed it was "now or never".
Cole weighed in on the situation, pointing out the "strange" nature of Amorim's comment.
"I think it's been messy," the former Chelsea man said ahead of Newcastle United's clash with Arsenal, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
"I think he said he begged Manchester United to finish the season with Sporting Lisbon but Manchester United wanted him now, that's a strange thing to say coming into the club.
"But he's an impressive manager. What he's done in the Portuguese league has been nothing short of remarkable with Sporting Lisbon's budget against Benfica and Porto, he's been incredible, but this is a different beast.
"I think it's a strange one. All the things we're saying about Ruben Amorim we were saying about Erik ten Hag, I hope it works for him."
Amorim takes to the Old Trafford hot-seat looking to overturn the club's worst-ever start to a Premier League campaign. The Red Devils are also reeling off their lowest finish to a Premier League season.
Amorim has enjoyed an impressive tenure with Sporting, including two league titles and Taca da Liga trophies.
His side's title defence began in perfect fashion with ten wins from ten games - sitting six points clear at the top of the table.
Amorim also led the Portuguese champions to the top eight of the UEFA Champions League thanks to two wins and a draw from their opening three matches.
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Keown: 'Executioners' preference was obvious
Martin Keown agreed with Cole that United's handling of the situation has been head-scratching, and felt the evidence was there for United to sack Ten Hag "sooner".
Club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy assumed interim responsibilities until Amorim's arrival and his temporary reign got off to a strong start with a 5-2 demolition of Leicester City in the Carabao Cup.
And Keown felt there was a good "reaction" from United under the former striker's guise, but questioned why United took their time to dismiss Ten Hag as it "seemed very obvious" the club were not achieving results under the Dutchman - saying their FA Cup triumph last season "papered over the cracks".
Keown added: "Dan Ashworth and his team of executioners that were there, really when they took the job in the summer. I know they just got their feet under the table but it seemed very obvious, they lost 14 games last year in the Premier League, eighth in the table - worst finish in the Premier League.
"So for me the timing was odd, should maybe have happened sooner. The FA Cup win papered over the cracks that were very visible, so now this is a huge new chapter coming ahead for Manchester United and this weekend Van Nistelrooy, tough match [at home to Chelsea].
"They looked a lot better, in midweek I thought there was a reaction, a bit more electricity about the performance, but big changes now for that dressing room, who in that dressing room is really up for that challenge?
"There's been successive managers over the years hasn't there, they've made lots of changes they probably thought 'our feet are just under the table, let's give it time' but the obvious decision, everybody in football knew."
"No likes to see anyone lose their job but it was very obvious to make that change and now they've just made it, six months later."
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