Micah Richards recently raised questions about whether Ruben Amorim truly grasps the level of media scrutiny that comes with being the manager of Manchester United. His remarks point to how Amorim’s own comments might be complicating his job further.
Manchester United’s troubles continued as they fell to a 1-0 loss against Tottenham on Sunday, leaving them in a disappointing 15th spot in the Premier League standings.
James Maddison struck a first-half goal that marked the Red Devils’ 12th league defeat this season, making it their worst performance in the top division in over thirty years.
With several key players out due to injuries, Amorim faces a tough challenge ahead, especially with an upcoming away game against an in-form Everton. Post-match, he brushed off any speculation about his job security but acknowledged the difficulty of managing at United.
Critics have largely zeroed in on his stubborn tactics, but Richards argues that the real issue lies in Amorim’s interaction with the media. The ex-Manchester City defender believes that Amorim is inadvertently making his situation more challenging.
“Some of his comments are naive,” Richards said on The Rest Is Football podcast. “Like preferring the goalkeeping coach over Rashford or his exchanges with Ange before the match. It seemed at first that he had conviction, but now it feels like he doesn’t quite get the weight of being United’s manager.”
Richards noted Amorim’s penchant for making statements that grab headlines, which only seems to fuel the chaos surrounding the club. “When he labels this team as the worst in United’s history, it becomes a sensational headline every week. If he doesn’t rate Rashford, that’s fine—his call. But he’s giving the media more fodder with every statement, complicating his own role. It’s all just chaotic,” he said.
Richards urged the beleaguered manager to concentrate on results instead of stirring up unnecessary controversy. “He needs to refrain from giving out story-fueling soundbites,” he advised.
Additionally, Amorim was criticized for not utilizing any academy players until the last moments of the match against Spurs. He defended his approach, arguing that he’s simply cautious with United’s young talents.
“The Premier League is the toughest competition globally,” Amorim stated. “I’m trying to be careful with them. The team was pushing for a goal, and I saw no reason to make changes. But they will get their chance.”
As both on-field results and media scrutiny intensify, Amorim’s capability to tackle these dual challenges will be critical to his future at Old Trafford.
