Coach Amorim made a defiant statement after the draw against Leeds.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Coach Ruben Amorim has made powerful statements about his influence at Man Utd, asserting that his role is that of a leader and not just limited to coaching.

Following the disappointing 1-1 draw against Leeds United on January 4th, manager Ruben Amorim caused a public uproar with his blunt statements, exposing deep cracks in Manchester United's operational structure.

Man Utd continued to disappoint by drawing against a supposedly weaker opponent (Photo: Getty).

In the post-match press conference, the 40-year-old strategist affirmed that his position at Old Trafford is not simply about coaching. "I came here to be the manager of Man Utd, not just the head coach," Amorim emphasized.

Ruben Amorim has been appointed as head coach from November 2024, with the former Sporting Lisbon manager claiming he was promised greater authority to rebuild the culture and reshape Manchester United, which has long been in decline.

Despite admitting that he doesn't have the illustrious track record of Thomas Tuchel or Jose Mourinho, coach Amorim still asserted his leadership role at the club.

"I am the leader here, and that will last for another 18 months, or until the board decides to make a change." He also stated frankly that he would not resign despite the surrounding pressure.

Notably, Ruben Amorim did not hesitate to publicly demand that Director of Football Jason Wilcox and other departments "fulfill their duties," from scouting to long-term strategy.

The admission that the team is unlikely to sign any new players this month highlights the limitations of his power. Furthermore, reminders of criticism from Gary Neville and the media suggest Amorim is under immense pressure at Old Trafford.

According to the Portuguese strategist, Manchester United's problem lies not only in the results on the pitch but also in the way the club is managed. If there isn't a groundbreaking change in the top structure, the next 18 months could very well be the final chapter in Amorim's journey at the "Theatre of Dreams".

Coach Amorim sent a strong message to the Man Utd hierarchy (Photo: Getty).

Entering the match against Leeds on January 4th, Man Utd were almost without their starting lineup as a number of key players such as Bruno Fernandes, De Ligt, and Mainoo were injured, along with the absence of Mbeumo and Mazraoui due to their participation in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

This lack of creativity left Man Utd struggling, despite controlling 56% of the ball possession but managing only two shots on target. The visitors had to rely on the individual brilliance of Matheus Cunha to salvage a point.

However, manager Amorim insisted this was an improvement over the previous draw against Wolves. He was pleased with Leeds' ability to control the game against their annoying pressing style: "We dominated the game and created chances to win. The goal conceded only came from an unfortunate transitional situation."

In their next match, Man Utd will travel to Burnley on the evening of January 7th. Coach Amorim hopes his players will regain their form and secure three points on the opponent's ground.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/hlv-amorim-phat-ngon-day-thach-thuc-sau-tran-hoa-leeds-20260105090816995.htm