With a troubling domestic record, a Europa League defeat could place Ruben Amorim in significant jeopardy.

Rewind to November 2024, when the Manchester United management acknowledged yet another oversight in letting Erik ten Hag stay on, leading to his eventual dismissal.

At that juncture, Ruben Amorim emerged as United’s potential saviour—a youthful, ambitious coach brimming with innovative ideas and an impressive track record. Amorim left Sporting with a staggering 88.2% win rate from the 17 games he managed that season before taking the reins at Old Trafford.

Before the 2024/25 season commenced, Amorim’s lowest win percentage with the Portuguese club was 54.5% over 11 matches in the 2019/20 season. After establishing the squad he desired and implementing his playing style, the 2022/23 campaign saw him achieve a solid 70% win rate, which was considered his weakest performance.

Amorim was poised to be Manchester United’s messiah

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team would have us believe that Amorim was the man destined to finally assume the mantle from Sir Alex Ferguson, succeeding where David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, and Ten Hag had faltered.

However, here we find ourselves, nearly six and a half months into his tenure, and either United’s latest manager isn’t truly Amorim, the Portuguese lacks the capabilities needed to manage a top club, or, as has been reiterated countless times, the squad simply isn’t up to standard.

While one could argue that a manager’s style may not always align with a particular club’s ethos, Manchester United’s situation is notably distinct.

Each of the mentioned former managers has experienced success elsewhere. For Amorim, Van Gaal, Mourinho, and Ten Hag, their accolades have typically included league or cup victories as a baseline.

Thus, it is simplistic to dismiss anyone stepping into the United dugout as being ‘not good enough.’

United have suffered 13 losses in 25 Premier League matches under Amorim

What’s astonishing in Amorim’s case is the glaringly poor performance of his United side within the domestic competition.

As the Premier League season draws to a close, the Red Devils find themselves languishing in 16th place, a single point and position above their Europa League final adversaries, Tottenham.

In the 25 Premier League matches that Amorim has overseen, his side has managed to secure only six victories, alongside six draws and 13 losses.

This win percentage of a mere 24% is alarming, especially when juxtaposed with the fact that United have historically been a scoring side, yet they’ve only netted 30 goals across these matches. Furthermore, they have conceded 40 goals during this period, indicating that the issues extend beyond just the attacking players.

A contrasting narrative in Europe

To put United’s domestic struggles into sharper perspective, three of their league victories in the 2024/25 season came against the teams relegated: Ipswich, Southampton, and Leicester. They also managed wins against Fulham, Everton, and a struggling Manchester City, who have also faltered this season.

In contrast, the European stage tells a wholly different story.

In 10 Europa League matches managed by Amorim, United secured eight victories and two draws, scoring 28 goals while conceding 15— outpacing the returns Erik ten Hag managed in his 15 games within the same competition.

Amorim’s win percentage of 80% in Europe aligns much more closely with his successful stint at Sporting and indicates that his managerial approach may better suit European football.

Despite having several seasoned players who ought to perform at a higher level consistently, it cannot be denied that the Premier League is more physically demanding and possibly less technical than what Amorim is accustomed to.

His unwavering commitment to a specific style of play is commendable; however, there comes a time to reassess and recognise when things aren’t functioning effectively.

Failure in the Europa League final may signal the end for Amorim

As the Europa League final looms, the 40-year-old has suggested that such a moment of reckoning is imminent.

“Everyone here must contemplate numerous issues seriously,” he remarked. “The final is not the only concern; we have more significant matters at hand.”

“I’m referring to myself, the club culture, and the team ethos. We need to address that. This is a pivotal moment in the club’s history.”

“If we don’t act decisively this summer, maintaining the status quo will lead to a repeat of this challenging season.”

If United’s ambitions to reclaim their former glory in Europe crumble, it could hasten the search for a new manager. However, continuing this cycle only brings the club back to square one. Manchester United’s troubles are not the sole responsibility of each successive manager.

There is an urgent necessity for a thorough examination of what precisely needs to change, along with an open dialogue about why well-regarded players struggle to find their rhythm at one of football’s most legendary clubs.