Ruben Amorim launches astonishing attack on Man Utd hierarchy and walks out of presser following the 1-1 draw away at Leeds.
The game itself saw Brenden Aaronson open the scoring for Leeds and Matheus Cunha quickly levelling for Man Utd. While the result extends Leeds’ unbeaten run, it marked another underwhelming performance for Amorim’s side.
Then attention turned to his explosive post-match press conference, where he insisted he joined as manager (not just head coach), and demanded more control over transfers, criticising the scouting department and sporting director Jason Wilcox to “do their job”.
He also suggested he’d see out his remaining 18-month contract before “everyone moves on,” as pressure mounts on his long-term future amid reported tensions.
🗣️ “I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not the coach”🗣️ “If people can’t handle criticism we need to change the club”
Ruben Amorim issues a strong statement following Manchester United’s draw with Leeds and insists that ‘he will not quit’ from his role 🔴 pic.twitter.com/DlsOFymdL9
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 4, 2026
“I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach! pic.twitter.com/nDhmJT99kK
— BeanymanSports (@BeanymanSports) January 4, 2026
Amorim said on the draw, as per Manchester Evening News: “I think we did well. We improved a lot of things that compared to the last game. We controlled quite well the aggressively of the offensive from Leeds. We controlled well one against one. A really good environment, really funny environment, and they did well.”
“We controlled more the possession, the connection, the position of the players. I think they were in the better positions to play, and that can show in the way we played. We had more chances than the opponent to score, but we need to not to think about the next one.”
On Zirkzee: “It’s really important. I think Ben improved in the connection today. Josh, the 20 minutes that he played, he was active. He was creating chances, creating spaces for us. It’s important. Also, Manu [Ugarte] played better today and helped the team also to create chances. So it was better than last week.”
On Sesko: “First of all, to miss the chances that he’s missing he’s always there, and that is the first step. He’s really aggressive when the ball goes to the side. He’s really aggressive when he has to fight for the first ball. Of course, when you look at the game of a striker, if you miss chances, they will say that the player did everything wrong. I don’t agree. I think the right position. He just need to score one and then all the weight that he has on top of him is going to disappear and he’s going to be better.”
On Zirkzee’s future: “Josh needs to be prepared to play in every game. All the players need to be ready. If you play 20 minutes, you need to play 20 minutes to help the team. He does that. He’s a player from our team. That’s it.”
On the having confidence from board: “Guys, to stop with that, and I noticed that you received selective information about everything. I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United. That is clear.”
“I know that my name is not Tuchel, is not Conte, is not Mourinho, but I’m the manager of Manchester United. It’s going to be like this for 18 months or when the board decided to change. That was my point. I want to finish with that. I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until other guy is coming here to replace me.
“I just want to say that I’m going to be the manager of this team, not just the coach. I was really clear on that. That is going to finish in 18 months, and then everyone is going to move on.
“That was the deal. That is my job, not to be a coach. If people cannot handle the Gary Nevilles and the criticises of everything, we need to change the club. No, no guys, I would say that I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach. Every department, the scouting department, the sport director needs to do their job. I will do mine for 18 months and then we move on. Thank you, guys.”
Here’s how fans reacted as Ruben Amorim launches an astonishing attack on the Man Utd hierarchy and walks out of his presser…
@henrywinter: Ruben Amorim’s job title is head coach not manager. He’s either calling out people upstairs or the media or talking in riddles. He’s not in a strong enough position – given results/performances/£200m+ spend in summer – to be talking like this. #MUFC
@Bushy70191675: Seriously. 100% behind him. Name one manager in the last 10 years who’s been any better! And had to field 6 academy players on the bench away at Leeds!! @garyneville we all know can be a total cock on the best day. If Utd pot Amorim, then we’re back at the beginning again! 💩
@PeterConwell: Sounds like the club are breaking promises about backing him in the transfer market and are failing yet another manager part way through his contract. Regardless of your opinion on Amorim, Manchester United is rotten to the core, the damage is probably irreversible. We’re cooked
@AdamGray1250: Insane naivety to hire Amorim when other clubs had avoided him due to tactical inflexibility, however justified to ask him to change after Everton, West Ham & Wolves games. If it wasn’t for external scrutiny, he wouldn’t have made the change that got his team a point today.
@kayblow76: @GNev2 just know your criticism of this guy & his #MUFC squad is duly noted. If you cannot call out SJR & INEOS for refusing to back him when it’s obvious he needs help, just because SJR granted you an interview last summer, then I don’t know what to say to you. But keep it up!
@The_Looney_Toon: He’s such a fraud. His shite system doesn’t work and never will do. I’m loving it. 🤣
@Shaunstevens84: I’d rather wilcox etc go than rubin. Need to stick with him and board needs to back him with the players he needs.
@RooVanMataZaj: Seems quite clear that the relationship between Amorim & Wilcox has now broken. United are currently just treading water waiting for what seems like the inevitable & for Ratcliffe/@INEOS to grow a pair. We either need to back Amorim this month or sack him – that simple!
@glazerscashcow: Something has changed between the manager and the board. This to me sounds like a guy who has lost some backing and as I’ve said many times before is in over his head. He’s losing his head here and that comes with inexperience IMO.
