Man United bosses stand by embattled Ruben Amorim despite Europa League loss but players are SPLIT over support for ‘over-confident’ head coach

Manchester United are standing by Ruben Amorim after losing the Europa League final to Tottenham, but it’s understood that the players are split over their support of the head coach.

Old Trafford bosses insist they have no intention of sacking Amorim despite United’s defeat in Bilbao, and several stars including Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw backed him publicly immediately after the game.

But a number of other players feel the 40-year-old is too over-confident in his approach, and cannot understand why he puts so much faith in a playing system that is not suited to the squad he inherited in November.

Captain Bruno Fernandes led the calls for Amorim to stay, saying: ‘We just agreed that he’s the right man. He has done a lot of good things. We know that the manager is looked at by the results. Obviously we see more than that as players.

‘It’s not my decision but I do think the manager is the right one and I don’t think that there will be a better person to do the job. I know it’s difficult to understand that. But I still do think that he’s the right man to lead the club.

‘I do think that the club is in a situation where it’s easier to get a different one in because the results haven’t been there. But as my other teammates said, and I repeat myself, I do think he’s the right man.’

Old Trafford bosses insist they have no intention of sacking Amorim despite United’s defeat in Bilbao. Pictured: United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe

It is understood that Red Devils players are split over their support of the beleaguered Portuguese boss 

Dalot, another Portuguese player who is known to be close to Amorim, and Shaw also said they are ‘100 per cent sure’ he is still the right man for the job.

However, a number of their teammates have reservations over Amorim remaining in charge if he continues to insist on using a 3-4-3 formation and tactics that have seen United lose 16 of his 41 games in charge.

‘He’s not going to change the way he plays and the players aren’t happy about that, it’s just not working,’ said one insider last night.

Meanwhile, Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho have cast doubt over their futures at Old Trafford in the wake of the defeat to Spurs.

Fernandes revealed that he is open to leaving if United want to cash in on him after missing out on automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League worth £100million.

It emerged earlier this month that Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal are prepared to break the British transfer record and pay Fernandes close to £200m over a three-year contract following talks with his representatives.

Although it seems unlikely that United would consider selling their captain, Fernandes said: ‘I have always been honest. If the club thinks it’s time to part ways because they want to do some cashing in or whatever, it’s what it is. Football sometimes is like this. I’ve always said I will be here until the club says to me that it’s time to go.’

Garnacho was fuming after he was kept on the bench until the 71st minute in Bilbao and didn’t try to hide his feelings.

Alejandro Garnacho has cast doubt over his future at the club after fuming about not coming on until the 71st minute

United skipper Bruno Fernandes revealed that he is open to leaving if United want to cash in on him after missing out on automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League

‘Up until the final I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don’t know,’ he said.

‘The final will influence (my decision) but the whole season, the situation of the club. I’m going to try to enjoy the summer and see what happens afterwards.’

United still went ahead with an end-of-season barbecue despite losing the final, although it’s unclear how many players attended.

The club’s share price fell sharply by eight per cent in early trading in New York on Thursday, wiping more than £140m off its stock market value.