For a man whose native language is not English, Ruben Amorim has certainly mastered the art of straight talk since joining Manchester United.
Amorim has built quite a reputation at Old Trafford, having opened up about how things are going during his short but bumpy 70-day tenure as the club's new head coach.
His early warning that “the storm is coming” proved both prophetic and popular among the headlines.
Since then he has not hidden from the fact that mighty Manchester United are facing an embarrassing relegation battle and that his own job could be in jeopardy if results do not improve – despite having only just moved out of the Lowry Hotel to temporary accommodation with his family.
Earlier this month he admitted that his players are sometimes 'scared' on the pitch. But even by his standards, Amorim's tone after Sunday's 3-1 defeat to Brighton was extremely strong.
“We are perhaps the worst team in the history of Manchester United,” the 39-year-old said before telling reporters in search of a headline that they had got their wish.
In terms of dramatic effect, it was exactly the same: Ralf Rangnick said United's squad needed open-heart surgery, a comment that still resonates almost three years later.
It's a high-stakes strategy from Amorim, presumably aimed at snapping his players out of their lethargy and provoking a response.
There was no shortage of ex-pros expressing the opinion yesterday that his words would not go down well in the locker room. Only time will tell if it has the desired effect or backfires on Amorim's face, but the early signs yesterday were promising.
It appears the players are taking their share of responsibility for the club's predicament. After all, it's not like the problems only started after Amorim came through the door in November.
Overall, there is appreciation for his honesty and the direct approach he has brought to the club. After the defeat to Brighton, it was also noted that the Portuguese had reached his lowest point yet at United.
“Not angry, but very, very sad,” said a source in the locker room. 'Nobody had seen him like that before and the players noticed. They know it's not his fault.'
Amorim's attitude was not much clearer by the time he came into the media spotlight. 'In ten games in the Premier League we have won two. I know that,” he said. 'Imagine what this is like for a Manchester United fan? Imagine what this is for me? We're getting a new coach who loses more than the previous coach.”
It's what Amorim said next that got less attention than his comment about his team being the worst team in United history.
“I'm not going to change no matter what,” he added. “So that's why I say we will suffer, because I will continue to do the same thing.”
Once again it was a high-risk approach, this time with employers not thinking twice about jettisoning one of the men who brought him to Old Trafford, sporting director Dan Ashworth, after 159 days in the job. to throw.
With United in 13th place in the Premier League, you can't blame Sir Jim Ratcliffe for getting a little nervous when the captain of a ship insists it's full steam ahead in such choppy seas.
Fortunately, Ineos knows a thing or two about sailing and all indications from United's hierarchy yesterday were that they remain confident in Amorim's Plan A.
Sources even suggested that United would be more concerned if their coach made a sudden U-turn and abandoned the 3-4-3 philosophy that was his trademark at Sporting Lisbon and remains his modus operandi.
There is a realization within the club hierarchy that it is not so much the system that is to blame as individual mistakes and that some players lack basic skills in effort and application.
“The formation was fine at Anfield and the Emirates,” said an insider, referring to United's impressive draw with league leaders Liverpool and FA Cup victory over Arsenal on penalties.
No one in the corridors of power at Old Trafford was carried away by those results, and there was no great shock when United narrowly avoided an embarrassing defeat at home to Southampton and were once again outplayed by Brighton.
Take the rough with the smooth and all that. As long as United show some improvement and move up the ladder quickly, there won't be a problem. Meanwhile, there is an understanding that Amorim is trying to develop a new mentality in the way the team trains and plays.
Sunday was not the first time the United boss has insisted he will not bow to his beliefs. Some would argue that it was a huge risk to change tactics mid-season as a group of players under Erik ten Hag were used to a different method, but he would be frustrated at the system being blamed for United's shortcomings.
United chief Omar Berrada witnessed first-hand Pep Guardiola's growing pains at Manchester City, and the hope is that short-term pain will bring Amorim gain in the long term.
As for his choice of words this weekend, no one is inclined to tell him to rein it in. It seems we have not yet heard the final truths of Amorim.
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