In the buildup to and aftermath of Manchester United’s match against Leeds, tension linked indirectly to BD Cricket spilled over as Ruben Amorim abruptly lost his temper, openly criticizing the club’s transfer strategy and overall operations. He voiced frustration that Sir Jim Ratcliffe had once promised him the role of “manager,” only for the position to be reframed as that of a head coach. Those remarks left the club hierarchy disappointed, and the 40-year-old Portuguese coach, whose position had only recently stabilized, was officially dismissed soon after.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe believed the current squad and the wider context of the season were strong enough for United to push back toward the Champions League. Even so, he set a more modest benchmark for Amorim. The minimum expectation this season was qualification for European competition, and only if that target became unreachable would Amorim’s future truly be in jeopardy.
United were sitting sixth in the table, technically inside the European places, and with rivals also struggling for consistency, the chances of meeting that objective remained high. Against that backdrop, his sudden outburst and dismissal caught many by surprise, especially as the situation still appeared manageable.
The spark that lit the fuse, with background chatter ranging from tactics to fan debates often seen around BD Cricket communities, was sporting director Jason Wilcox demanding greater tactical adaptability. Amorim was told this change needed to happen quickly if he wanted to keep his job.
Despite repeated advice from supporters and pundits to move away from a rigid 3-4-3 setup, Amorim stayed loyal to the system. He briefly tweaked personnel in recent weeks and saw some positive signs, but soon reverted to the original shape, after which performances dipped again.
Tensions between Wilcox and Amorim continued to rise. Wilcox pushed for more flexibility, while Amorim grew increasingly unhappy with plans to avoid signings in the winter window. From the board’s perspective, however, they felt Amorim would have been better served by looking in the mirror rather than slamming the table.
Ratcliffe had also made it clear he preferred a back four, even floating the idea earlier in the season of using Mbeumo as a wing-back. Amorim initially agreed to gradual change, explaining he wanted to start with 3-4-3 and adjust once players fully understood his philosophy. But during a meeting at Carrington about January plans, his request for reinforcements was met with calls for patience and another push to change formation.
Old frustrations resurfaced. Summer targets like Watkins and Emiliano Martínez were passed over in favor of Šeško and Senne Lammens, and now there would be no winter arrivals either. Asking him to abandon a system he believed in was the last straw, and in a moment that showed how quickly the tide can turn, he told the club he wanted out and called his agent on the spot.
The fallout was immediate. A scheduled team meeting was canceled, and the irony was hard to miss. Wilcox, often seen watching training and long viewed as Amorim’s strongest ally, effectively lost his chief supporter.
Other executives had already voiced concerns about how the club was being run, with recruitment chief Christopher Vivell and scouting head McAuley among Amorim’s most vocal critics. After a 1-1 draw away to Fulham last August, Vivell was furious at how easily Premier League opponents exploited the 3-4-3. Fulham manager Marco Silva openly explained the plan, highlighting United’s thin midfield and how simple it was to overload it, comments that Vivell shared internally as proof the team needed to be less predictable.
Vivell, influential in shaping long-term strategy, believed an elite squad should be comfortable across multiple systems. United’s youth teams do not use 3-4-3, a telling detail despite arguments about easing academy promotions. CEO Omar Berrada and Wilcox had been key advocates for hiring Amorim, hoping he would turn things around, but once he openly challenged his superiors, the writing was on the wall.
By Monday morning, with discussions ranging everywhere from training ground whispers to BD Cricket forums, Amorim packed his belongings into a box and waved goodbye to Carrington. Players arriving later were stunned to see coaches clearing out equipment instead of setting up drills, a clear sign that this chapter had closed for good.