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Rio Ferdinand has singled out one reason that Ruben Amorim might be able to find a silver lining in Manchester United’s 1-0 ignominious defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final.
The Red Devils endured an evening to forget in Bilbao as they served up another less-than performance against their fellow Premier League strugglers.
Amorim’s side were undone in the first-half by a helter-skelter goal from Brennan Johnson that was helped on its way by Andre Onana and Luke Shaw, marking their fourth loss to Ange Postecoglou’s side this season.
Unable to take the trophy home, not only with Man United end the campaign without silverware, but Amorim will also miss out on the opportunity to take his side into the Champions League next term.
But, Man United legend Ferdinand argued, there was still something that Amorim could take comfort from in his team’s defeat.
Manchester United were unable to redeem their woeful season with Europa League final defeat
Ruben Amorim will now have to prepare to reshape the entire squad ahead of the next season
But Rio Ferdinand argued that there is a bright spot for Amorim in Man United’s gloomy picture
‘He needs to be afforded a window, you can’t invest in a manger and not give him the chance to implement his philosophy,’ Ferdinand said on TNT as he assessed Amorim’s Old Trafford tenure, which began in November.
‘His way of playing is very different, he is not coming to tweak a few things, he needs more time, he needs a recruitment window for real judgment (even thought) to be as harsh as you want to be, it has been a disaster of a season domestically and to not win this is a disaster too.’
Glen Hoddle was adamant that Amorim would have to act fast, however, noting that the timing of the Portuguese manager’s move had also been against he wishes.
‘He will be under pressure if he doesn’t start well,’ the former Tottenham manager stressed. ‘The first 10 (matches) are vital next year.
‘He didn’t want to come when he came, he hasn’t had players he wanted.’
Star co-pundit for the evening Gareth Bale agreed, adding that he was likely to be given more time to develop his style due to Man United missing out on European competition.
‘They will be rubbing their hands together in some sort of way,’ Ferdinand insisted, ‘because they can mould the players.
‘He doesn’t have the profile of player physically capable of going man to man and coming out on top, he needs players that can do that – so the recruitment period is important.
‘(But) they will give him the chance. They understand football and how pre-season is, (the importance of having the time) to fine tune things.’
But Ferdinand was also on hand to offer a warning to Amorim, adding: ‘If they thought this season was a pressure cooker, they need to be ready to bounce into next season.
‘(Losing a final like this) is disheartening and embarrassing to your pride and ego.’
Amorim will look to rebuild his struggling squad and has less pressure without European ties
Amorim himself cut a contemplative figure in his post-match press conference in Bilbao, insisting that he would leave without seeking compensation if the board called for him to go.
‘Let’s see (on the future). Like I said before, I am always open,’ Amorim said.
‘If the board and fans feel that I am not the right guy, I will go in the next day without any conversation about compensation, but I will not quit.
‘I am really confident on my job and as you see I will not change nothing in the way I do things.’
