Sir Jim Ratcliffe was ‘not being truthful’ in an interview where he insisted he had no plans to sack Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, according to a body language expert.
Ratcliffe indicated that Amorim could be given three years to prove himself, despite his struggles in the job since his appointment last November.
Amorim has been under pressure after a poor start to the season, and admitted before last weekend’s win over Sunderland that he was running out of time to save his job if results didn’t improve.
It followed a painful defeat at Brentford a week earlier and assurances from Ineos sources that Ratcliffe still backed Amorim and was prepared to let him stay in charge for the rest of the season.
The message from United was more measured but insiders still insisted that no replacements had been lined up and any talk over Amorim’s future was speculation.
Asked by The Times’ The Business podcast what would happen if the club’s majority owners, the Glazer family, told him to sack Amorim, Ratcliffe said: ‘It’s not going to happen.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe insisted Man United have no plans to sack Ruben Amorim despite a poor start
Ratcliffe indicated in an interview this week that he would give Amorim three years to prove himself in the role
‘He has not had the best of seasons. Ruben needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years. That’s where I would be.
‘You can’t run a club like Manchester United on knee-jerk reactions. You know, you flick a switch and it’s all going to be roses tomorrow.’
But body language expert Inbaal Honigman claimed there were ‘many signs’ Ratcliffe was ‘not being truthful in parts’ of the interview.
When speaking about Amorim’s future, the Ineos chief and United co-owner folds his arms. He then uses what Honigman calls ‘chopping’ motions during a discussion about his position as manager.
‘Crossed arms form a protective gesture, as if hiding himself from the toughest questions,’ Honigman told OLBG.
‘Even more so, when Sir Jim’s hand covers his own bicep in a warm self-hug, soothing himself. One of the telltale signs of dishonesty is rapid blinking, and we can see some fast eye flutters during the interview.’
‘Some of his nonverbal communication is honest and decisive, especially when his arms are uncrossed and he uses his hands in ‘chopping’ motions, which indicate that he has a plan. But in many parts, he expresses tension and even secrecy.’
Amorim has lost three of his seven Premier League games this season and crashed out of the Carabao Cup to Grimsby.
Ratcliffe crossing his arms when speaking about Amorim’s future represent a ‘protective gesture’, according to a body language expert
Ratcliffe showed signs he was not being truthful during the interview, the expert said
United beat Sunderland in their last Premier League outing and face Liverpool after the international break
The 40-year-old is approaching his first anniversary in charge after being appointed at the start of last November, midway through United’s worst campaign in more than half a century.
It would cost £12million in compensation to sack him before that date.
Amorim has won just 10 of his 34 Premier League games and has not yet recorded back-to-back victories.
His side are 10th in the table, four points behind Bournemouth in fourth. United resume after the international break with a trip to fierce rivals Liverpool on October 19.
