"What makes me suffer is to lose games"
Ruben Amorim’s time at Manchester United has been far from smooth, with results falling short of expectations at one of football’s most demanding clubs.
With just nine wins from 33 league games, critics have questioned his tactics and leadership.
Yet Amorim remains unfazed, dismissing fears of being sacked.
For him, the real pain comes from losing matches, not losing his job.
His candid words offer rare insight into the mindset of a manager determined to succeed, even when the spotlight is harsh and the pressure immense.
Struggling for Results
Amorim is under no illusions about the challenges he faces but insists his focus is on winning.
During his press conference, he said:
“The worst thing in this job is not to win games. And that is the same feeling in Casa Pia when I lose in the third division.
“It’s a dream to be here and I want to continue here and I want to fight for this. But the problem is now.
“What makes me suffer is to lose games, it is not to lose my job. You fear to lose your job when you have to pay the bills. And I don’t have that feeling. I just want to continue this.
“But when we don’t win games, that is the suffering that I have. It’s not the fear of losing the job. I don’t care.”
Last season, United finished 15th in the Premier League, amassing just 34 points from 33 games. Amorim acknowledged that the scale of the club adds to the pressure.
He continued: “Nobody here is naïve. We understand that we need results to continue the project.
“We will reach a point that is impossible for everyone because this is a very big club with a lot of sponsors, with two owners. So it’s hard, the balance is really hard.”
Criticism and Sticking to His Vision
Ruben Amorim has faced sharp criticism from pundits, including former United players, but he insists he knows his team far better than anyone analysing from afar.
He said: “There is no one in the world that can read everything and listen to everything about people that understand football and not be influenced by that.
“So I try to listen and to see all the games because I know that I see the game more times than all those guys (pundits) together because they have to see all the games in the Premier League and give an opinion.
“My opinion is completely different. Because I see the games, I see the trainings, I understand my players, I understand what I’m doing and I follow my job this way because it’s impossible to survive in this club, listening to all the things.”
Amorim also refused to abandon his controversial 3-4-3 formation, pointing out that his players have never asked him to change.
He stated: “Guys, I’m the manager of the club, a big club.
“And is the media that is going to dictate what I’m going to do? It cannot be. It’s not possible to sustain that.”
He shrugged off claims that United had caused stress at home:
“That my wife is talking with the media, that is such a nonsense.
“Nobody in my family talks about that. We love to live in England.
“You have no idea what is abuse in here because you are so polite compared to my country where we are losing. So you have no idea.
“We are really happy. My family is really happy. I’m just me and my family that is struggling because I hate losing and I hate failing.”
Ruben Amorim’s message is unmistakable: his battle is with results, not the threat of dismissal.
While pundits debate his tactics and question his future, he remains focused on his players and the task at hand.
For him, the agony lies in losing, not being sacked.
Whether his determination can turn Manchester United’s fortunes around will be the defining story of his tenure.
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