Ruben Amorim responds to Sir Jim Ratcliffe's criticism of Manchester United players - 'We're both blunt and honest'
Published 12/03/2025 at 19:38 GMT
Within Jim Ratcliffe's criticism of an underperforming Manchester United side, the billionaire co-owner cemented his support of Ruben Amorim and wants the Portuguese to remain at the club. Amorim says that the pair have a "really good connection" and can both be honest with each other, so honest that they are comfortable telling the other to "f*** off" in their frank but friendly conversations.
Watch hilarious moment Amorim is asked about ‘eff off’ joke with Ratcliffe
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Ruben Amorim has opened up on his "blunt" but "really good" relationship with Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in an exclusive interview with TNT Sports.
United welcome Real Sociedad to Old Trafford for their second leg of their Europa League clash - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - and heavy pressure will be on the hosts to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Amorim's side scraped a 1-1 draw in the first leg, and followed that up with another 1-1 draw against Arsenal to halt any further plummets down the league table.
To make matters worse for some of their underperforming squad, Ratcliffe described squad members as "not good enough" and "overpaid", referencing Casemiro, Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana, plus Jadon Sancho and Anthony, who are both out on loan.
Ratcliffe clarified that United's woes are due to the players that he inherited when taking over, adding that the club still have transfer instalments to pay this summer for the likes of Sancho.
One silver lining for Amorim, however, is that he at least has the support of billionaire Ratcliffe, who revealed he and Amorim like telling the other to "f*** off" in blunt but polite conversations.
It was a fact that Amorim could not help but laugh as he admitted the two are "really honest" to each other in conversation.
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"I think we have a really good connection," Amorim told TNT Sports.
"I think we are both a little bit blunt and honest in conversations. He really likes the club, he's like a fan. I know that he's doing really difficult things, but I feel that we have a good connection, and we want to succeed here.
"I already knew [about his support]. Backdoors we talk a lot, and we talk about football, not just the club. It's a good thing because publicly, it's a different thing, and it shows a lot of confidence from the owner.
"I felt it since day one. Since day one, I felt that the people really like my work. Sometimes it's harder for me because I'm doing the work. My work is the result, so also sometimes it's harder for me, my relationship with them, than theirs with me."
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Man Utd have leaders in dressing room but they need confidence - Amorim
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The son of a joiner, lifelong United fan Ratcliffe came from a more humble background compared to other billionaires, and it is that side of him that Amorim relates to.
"We are really honest with each other. I'm a little bit the same. I came from a normal family and now I'm here in Manchester and I'm still the same person. I feel that he is the same person, so we can talk like that."
While a club's owner badmouthing players and the club would usually be a public relations fiasco, Amorim believes that he showed "great courage" to talk about the side like that and not try to force a positive sentiment around the club.
"It helps because he understands the context, and that is a good thing. Then it goes against the public opinion of a lot of the media, and that is a good thing. That is not normal because as an owner, especially in the bad moments, he wants to make some popular things and I think he showed great courage in this moment to address that subject.
"It's better for him to address it, I don't like to address it. But it's a good thing because he knows the context of the club."
Man Utd 'leaders need confidence'
One player at least who likely has not incurred the ire of Ratcliffe is club captain Bruno Fernandes, who Amorim admitted the club need more players like him.
Following Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Arsenal, in which Fernandes equalised with a stunning free-kick, the manager said that the club needed "more Brunos".
The midfielder leads the club's scoring charts both in the league with seven and with 12 in all competitions, and has consistently been the one to step up and drag United out of a hole, or at least try to.
When asked if he has players like Bruno ready to step up in the squad, Amorim responded: "Mentality yes, but the character is different, also because they are coming from different places and different countries.
"I feel that Matta (Matthijs De Ligt) wants to be a leader, he's not a leader like Bruno but he's a different leader, the way he works. Nous (Noussair Mazraoui) is really quiet, but you can feel it when he talks, everybody listens.
"We have these kinds of leaders in the dressing room, but they need confidence. And when you are winning, they are going to show a different side of themselves."
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Highlights: Man Utd pegged back by Real Sociedad amid Fernandes VAR drama
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Three days before their draw with Arsenal, Amorim's side managed a 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad in the Europa League.
On Thursday they welcome the Spaniards to Old Trafford for the second leg, where the pressure will be on the side to qualify for the quarter-finals.
"The game is going to be different," said Amorim. "The pressure is going to be on us because we drew there, and I think our supporters felt we were quite well and comfortable during the game.
"They have a lot of experience and when you have the pressure to win and you have all your supporters at Old Trafford, it's different. But we will be prepared."
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