Manchester United have completely lost their identity – even Ruben Amorim is unsure of his future
Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has delivered a brutal assessment on the club’s decline, whilst expressing his doubts over manager Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils have endured a nightmare season, currently languishing in 14th in the table with just four games left to play, in what is set to be their worst campaign in the Premier League. GettyRuben Amorim has lost more Premier League games than he has won[/caption] Since taking charge in November, Amorim has failed to turn the tide at Old Trafford, and his side are now guaranteed to amass their lowest ever points tally in the competition’s history. After scraping a last-gasp 1-1 draw at Bournemouth on Sunday, United now have just 39 points to their name. This means that even if they win each of their remaining four games, they could only finish on 51 points. That tally is two less than the 58 they racked up during the 2021/22 season, their worst ever total as of now. Adding to their misery, Amorim’s side have lost 15 league games this term, the most in their Premier League history, and are almost certain to finish lower than any other United side has before in the competition. Erik ten Hag’s team came eighth last season, but there’s currently a 12-point gap between them and Fulham in that final standing. This is a far cry from Meulensteen’s spell at club between 2007 and 2013, during which time he was Sir Alex Ferguson‘s assistant as United won four league titles, two League Cups and the 2008 Champions League. And the Dutchman issued a damning judgement of how his old club have fared since then, with the Red Devils’ misfortune compounded by rivals Liverpool now moving level with them on 20 English titles. Speaking on talkSPORT’s Weekend Sports Breakfast, he said: “You think to yourself, [it was] 2013 when United won their last league title. And now, 12 years on, it has been just a steady decline. “And this year is the worst season in their Premier League history. Man United are already mathematically out of the race for a top five finishGetty Rene Meulensteen was part of the Red Devils’ last Premier League win in 2013GETTY Liverpool rubbed salt in United’s wounds as they wrapped up the league title with victory over TottenhamGetty “And Liverpool equalling the 20th title. That says it all really. It sums it up.” And Meulensteen didn’t stop there, as he bemoaned United’s loss of football identity since Ferguson left the club in 2013. Plenty of criticism has been levelled at Amorim’s refusal to deviate from his preferred 3-4-3 formation, despite his players clearly struggling to get to grips with the system. The 61-year-old continued: “The identity of United – because obviously we all know that Ruben Amorim wants to play that 3-4-3 system, which is something that is really foreign, [it] has always been foreign to Manchester United for so many years. “Yes, there is flexibility in players moving up and down the pitch in different things, but I always felt under Sir Alex, there was this clear identity of dynamic, attacking intensity, energy, go forward, all that. “And that was the identity, what United stood for.” The Premier League table makes for difficult reading for Man United fans Despite a dismal league season, United pulled off an incredible comeback against Lyon to reach the Europa League semi-finalsAFP via Getty The former Fulham manager argued United were previously recognised for their attractive brand of football, but claimed this has disappeared in recent years. He added: “I always say, at my time, people were supporting different clubs, but sometimes the biggest compliment you got was from fans from other clubs saying: ‘I’m not supporting United, but I love to watch them play’. “And I think that has long gone.” Despite losing 11 of his 23 Premier League games in charge at Old Trafford, Amorim has been praised for his refusal to sugarcoat his team’s current position, going as far as to suggest his side could be ‘the worst’ in United’s history. However, Meulensteen was less convinced by this, and claimed the Portuguese coach lacks faith in his long-term plans for the club. He said: “I feel sometimes when I listen to Ruben, and honestly everybody praises him for his honesty. Meulensteen delivered a bleak verdict on United’s decline in the last 12 years “But I also feel there is always almost a level of hesitation in his way that he speaks about Manchester United and the project that is going on.” The Red Devils can still salvage their season by winning the Europa League, with their semi-final first-leg against Athletic Bilbao later this week. Victory in Europe’s second-tier competition would secure them Champions League qualification next term, and Meulensteen admitted this could be the springboard Amorim’s side need to prompt a rebuild next season. He said: “A lot of that [their season] hangs on those two semi-final games, and then y
Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has delivered a brutal assessment on the club’s decline, whilst expressing his doubts over manager Ruben Amorim.
The Red Devils have endured a nightmare season, currently languishing in 14th in the table with just four games left to play, in what is set to be their worst campaign in the Premier League.
Since taking charge in November, Amorim has failed to turn the tide at Old Trafford, and his side are now guaranteed to amass their lowest ever points tally in the competition’s history.
After scraping a last-gasp 1-1 draw at Bournemouth on Sunday, United now have just 39 points to their name.
This means that even if they win each of their remaining four games, they could only finish on 51 points.
That tally is two less than the 58 they racked up during the 2021/22 season, their worst ever total as of now.
Adding to their misery, Amorim’s side have lost 15 league games this term, the most in their Premier League history, and are almost certain to finish lower than any other United side has before in the competition.
Erik ten Hag’s team came eighth last season, but there’s currently a 12-point gap between them and Fulham in that final standing.
This is a far cry from Meulensteen’s spell at club between 2007 and 2013, during which time he was Sir Alex Ferguson‘s assistant as United won four league titles, two League Cups and the 2008 Champions League.
And the Dutchman issued a damning judgement of how his old club have fared since then, with the Red Devils’ misfortune compounded by rivals Liverpool now moving level with them on 20 English titles.
Speaking on talkSPORT’s Weekend Sports Breakfast, he said: “You think to yourself, [it was] 2013 when United won their last league title. And now, 12 years on, it has been just a steady decline.
“And this year is the worst season in their Premier League history.
“And Liverpool equalling the 20th title. That says it all really. It sums it up.”
And Meulensteen didn’t stop there, as he bemoaned United’s loss of football identity since Ferguson left the club in 2013.
Plenty of criticism has been levelled at Amorim’s refusal to deviate from his preferred 3-4-3 formation, despite his players clearly struggling to get to grips with the system.
The 61-year-old continued: “The identity of United – because obviously we all know that Ruben Amorim wants to play that 3-4-3 system, which is something that is really foreign, [it] has always been foreign to Manchester United for so many years.
“Yes, there is flexibility in players moving up and down the pitch in different things, but I always felt under Sir Alex, there was this clear identity of dynamic, attacking intensity, energy, go forward, all that.
“And that was the identity, what United stood for.”
The former Fulham manager argued United were previously recognised for their attractive brand of football, but claimed this has disappeared in recent years.
He added: “I always say, at my time, people were supporting different clubs, but sometimes the biggest compliment you got was from fans from other clubs saying: ‘I’m not supporting United, but I love to watch them play’.
“And I think that has long gone.”
Despite losing 11 of his 23 Premier League games in charge at Old Trafford, Amorim has been praised for his refusal to sugarcoat his team’s current position, going as far as to suggest his side could be ‘the worst’ in United’s history.
However, Meulensteen was less convinced by this, and claimed the Portuguese coach lacks faith in his long-term plans for the club.
He said: “I feel sometimes when I listen to Ruben, and honestly everybody praises him for his honesty.
“But I also feel there is always almost a level of hesitation in his way that he speaks about Manchester United and the project that is going on.”
The Red Devils can still salvage their season by winning the Europa League, with their semi-final first-leg against Athletic Bilbao later this week.
Victory in Europe’s second-tier competition would secure them Champions League qualification next term, and Meulensteen admitted this could be the springboard Amorim’s side need to prompt a rebuild next season.
He said: “A lot of that [their season] hangs on those two semi-final games, and then you’ve still got a final to play if you get through.
“Because that would create so much more perspective for Ruben Amorim and Manchester United if they say: ‘Well, we’re back in the Champions League right now’.
“And make sure that we do get the right players in that he wants, plus also making sure that they are going to be a force in the Premier League again.
“But if that isn’t the case, and the nucleus of the same squad next year is the same as what it is now, why would it be any different?”
