Ruben Amorim’s start to life was subject of debate ahead of Manchester United’s Europa League Last 16 tie, with the Red Devils’ only hope of qualifying for Europe realistically lying with lifting the trophy.
Amorim was brought in in November to replace Erik ten Hag at the end of his disappointing tenure at Old Trafford, and has been tasked with rebuilding the club back to their glory.
Yet things have not exactly gone to plan so far, with the club in 14th in the Premier League and out of both FA and Carabao Cups already.
As such, there was even more pressure mounting on Amorim ahead of Thursday’s clash with Real Sociedad in northern Spain.
Clearly, things on the pitch have not been perfect, though there are a number of mitigating factors off the field that Amorim would rightly point to in the face of criticism for his opening few months as Red Devils boss.
Yet club icon Paul Scholes insisted that there was not too much pressure riding on Amorim at the moment, claiming that the Portuguese head coach will get plenty of time to get the team singing from the same hymn sheet.
Ruben Amorim’s start to life at Manchester United has so far not exactly gone to plan
Paul Scholes told TNT Sport that he believes Amorim will need ‘three or four windows’ to rebuild the side
Man United’s only realistic change of European qualification is winning the Europa League
‘I don’t think there is much pressure on him yet. I think he is alight. He is going to get plenty of time now, he need to turn this club around and has not really signed players,’ he told TNT Sport.
‘There are a lot of areas to improve and he needs three or four windows, it will take a lot of time to get the club back to where it should be.’
Co-pundit Karen Carney, however, pointed to the lack of improvement under Amorim as the season has gone on in her counter argument.
‘I disagree. I think he is under pressure with progressing, maybe it is stubbornness with the system.
‘I understand why he is not but he is under huge pressure as Man United manger.’
But former Red Devils midfielder Scholes was adamant that the club not only had no choice but to stick with the former Sporting Clube boss, but that doing so was the correct choice.
‘I think they have to stick with him. Where else can they go?’ he added.
‘He is a bright young manager, speaks well and there is so much going on in the background which cant be helpful. Let’s give him time and back him to move the team forwards.’
