🚨 Opinion: Why Blaming Ruben Amorim is Lazy — Manchester United’s Progress Must Be Measured Against Liverpool, Not Last Season’s Failures

🚨 Opinion: Why Blaming Ruben Amorim is Lazy — Manchester United’s Progress Must Be Measured Against Liverpool, Not Last Season’s Failures

When Manchester United fans and pundits alike begin sharpening their knives after just a few games into the new season, the temptation is always the same — go after the manager. It is the cycle we’ve seen with José Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and most recently Erik ten Hag. Now, Ruben Amorim finds himself in that same firing line. But before we rush to hang every fault around the manager’s neck, let’s take a step back and measure Manchester United’s progress this term against the yardstick of the best — Liverpool, the defending champions of England.

I am not taking anything away from Liverpool. If anything, they should be the team United’s progress is judged against. They set the standard last season by lifting the Premier League title, and Arne Slot has already proven in just a few matches that his team is difficult to break down, even when they don’t look spectacular for stretches. So, yes, it is fair to say Liverpool represents the benchmark.

Now, just because you cannot physically see something does not mean it isn’t there. The same applies to Manchester United’s progress. The goals may not be flowing yet, the points column may not look encouraging, but anyone who has truly paid attention will recognize that there are improvements under Amorim. The pressing is sharper, the midfield is more compact, and the transitions are executed with greater intent. Progress is not always visible in the form of scorelines alone.

United, admittedly, have not scored a single goal this term. That’s damning on the surface. Yet to pin that solely on the manager would be short-sighted. Football is not chess where every piece only moves when the strategist dictates. These are professional players, paid heavily to execute in front of goal, and when they fluff their lines, the responsibility should not magically disappear from them.

Take the criticism around team selection. Some supporters wondered why Amorim didn’t bring on Kobbie Mainoo or Joshua Zirkzee in search of a breakthrough. Fair question — but let’s also add context. Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, the two players who stayed on, combined for 35 goals in the Premier League last season. In other words, Amorim kept faith with proven firepower. Removing either of them early, just for the sake of appeasing fan sentiment, would have been managerial recklessness rather than tactical bravery.

Mainoo is a brilliant young midfielder, no doubt. He has produced match-winning goals and is fast becoming a fan favorite. But let’s be honest — bringing him on usually means either Cunha or Bruno Fernandes has to come off. Both of those players carry match-defining potential, even if they’ve been quiet for large spells. Amorim’s gamble, then, was not illogical. It was consistent with the principle of keeping game-changers on the pitch.

Look across the aisle at Anfield for evidence. Arne Slot did not substitute Mohamed Salah even when the Egyptian was unusually subdued for most of the match. Many expected him to be hooked, but Slot held his nerve. Eventually, Salah turned provider with a crucial assist that secured the points. That patience is what separates good managers from panicked ones. Amorim displayed similar conviction by keeping his attackers on, even if it did not pay off this time.

The truth is this: United fans are falling into the same trap of scapegoating managers, a cycle that has destroyed every project in recent years. Mourinho was accused of being outdated, Solskjaer was said to be too soft, and Ten Hag was dismissed as stubborn. Now Amorim is being painted as tactically naïve. But how many times will we keep blaming the man on the touchline when the men on the pitch continue to miss chances, lose duels, and switch off at crucial moments?

Accountability must be placed where it belongs — on the players. Amorim’s system is producing the chances. The work rate has improved. The structure is clear. But the final third execution, something no manager can fully control, is where United are faltering. Fans demanding instant results should remember that building a competitive team is not about one matchday or one transfer window — it is about building consistency over months.