Cristiano Ronaldo backs Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim to come good but says club he still loves has ‘same’ problem | football news
Cristiano Ronaldo has backed Ruben Amorim to turn around Manchester United’s fortunes insisting “the storm will end” at Old Trafford under his Portuguese compatriot.
Amorim has had a difficult start to life at United, losing five of his first 10 games in charge since succeeding Erik ten Hag last month.
The 39-year-old even suggested after Boxing Day’s 2-0 defeat at Wolves – a third successive defeat in all competitions – that his job would be in danger if United did not find form soon.
“He (Amorim) did a fantastic job in Portugal with my (club) Sporting,” Ronaldo said, speaking at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, where the Al Nassr striker was named best player in the Middle East of 2024.
“But the Premier League is a different beast, the most competitive league in the world.
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Amorim says all managers are under pressure and there is no way he can feel “comfortable” in his position at Old Trafford, especially after a run of three consecutive defeats.
“I knew it was going to be tough and the storm will continue. But the storm will end and the sun will come out.
“Fingers crossed it will be good with him and I hope the best for Manchester United because it’s a club I still love.”
Ronaldo: ‘Same problem’ at Man Utd
Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United for the second time at the end of 2022
Ronaldo’s second spell at United ended in November 2022 after an explosive television interview with presenter and journalist Piers Morgan.
United terminated Ronaldo’s contract with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner critical of owners the Glazer family, the standard of the club’s facilities and then-manager Ten Hag.
Ronaldo said: “I said it a year and a half ago and I will continue to say it: the problem is not the coaches.
Ronaldo was named best player from the Middle East at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai
“It’s like the aquarium and you have the fish in it and it’s sick, and you take it out and you fix the problem.
“If you put him back in the aquarium he’ll be sick again. That’s the problem with Manchester United. It’s the same.”
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Wolves and Manchester United
Boyhood fan Sir Jim Ratcliffe has taken a stake in United since Ronaldo’s departure to Saudi Arabia and now owns almost 29 per cent of the club.
Ratcliffe’s company Ineos controls the football operations at Old Trafford, but despite winning the FA Cup last season, fortunes on the pitch have not improved.
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Manchester United defender Harry Maguire says the squad believe in new head coach Ruben Amorim and are backing him to be a success because he is a “winner”.
United are currently 14th in the Premier League, just eight points above the relegation zone.
Asked if the situation at United is the same as when he left, Ronaldo replied: “100 per cent. If I was the owner of the club I would make things clear and adjust what I think is wrong there.
“I am still very young, I have many plans and dreams ahead of me. Mark my words, I will own a great club, for sure.”
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