Man Utd seven-hour crisis meeting led to manager sacking in international break

The international break has done little to dampen the rumours surrounding Ruben Amorim's position at Manchester United, following reports that club bosses have been in talks with key players to assess the current atmosphere within the squad. Amorim is nearing his first anniversary at Old Trafford, having succeeded Erik ten Hag in November 2024. However, after leading the team to a record-low 15th-place finish in the Premier League last season, progress has been slower than many anticipated.

United suffered another setback this season when they were ousted from the Carabao Cup by League Two side Grimsby Town. With Amorim's squad still yet to clinch their first away victory of the campaign, club executives have sought the opinions of certain players on how things are progressing.

This situation mirrors the events that led to a lengthy seven-hour meeting between Ten Hag and his former bosses around this time last year, which was swiftly followed by his dismissal.

Co-owner Joel Glazer, chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox all gathered at Ratcliffe's Knightsbridge offices in London to discuss the state of the club.

Omar Berrada and Brian Wilcox are believed to be spearheading recent talks between the club's top brass and the players, with captain Bruno Fernandes among those consulted.

While these discussions have been described as informal and not necessarily aimed at assessing Amorim's position, they are not typical of a smoothly running club.

INEOS billionaire and United co-owner Ratcliffe has frequently had to address questions about the manager's future. He defended his head coach on the debut episode of The Business Podcast, suggesting that he anticipates the Portuguese boss will stay at the club for the foreseeable future.

"He has not had the best of seasons," Ratcliffe admitted. "Ruben needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years. That's where I would be [on the topic of sacking Amorim]."

The comments come amidst escalating frustration from fans over the club's management. The Glazer family's control of United has long been a bone of contention for supporters, and since acquiring nearly 30 per cent of the club and taking over daily operations last year, Ratcliffe has struggled to change this sentiment.

Names such as Oliver Glasner, Eddie Howe, Gareth Southgate and Diego Simeone have been floated as potential replacements for the United managerial role. However, it appears the current boss is set to remain in his position for the time being.

Despite having managed 50 Premier League games, United's head coach Amorim has yet to achieve consecutive victories in the competition. While the Red Devils have had a successful run at home, including a 2-0 win over Sunderland before the international break, their away form continues to be a significant concern.