Manchester United’s new coach, Ruben Amorim, has Cristiano Ronaldo’s support, with the Portuguese superstar insisting the problem lies not with the coaches but with the club’s ownership.
Despite changes in management, Manchester United continues to struggle with inconsistency. For years, the Premier League’s most successful club has been caught in a cycle of poor performances. Former United forward Cristiano Ronaldo believes the root cause isn’t the managers but the owners, expressing confidence that he could fix everything if he were in charge.
Following Erik ten Hag’s dismissal in October, Ruben Amorim, who impressed with Sporting Lisbon, took over as United’s coach. However, the team’s woes persist, with five losses in Amorim’s first ten matches, including four defeats in their last five Premier League outings. Before their next match against Newcastle United, Amorim admitted his job isn’t secure.
Speaking at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai on Friday, Ronaldo defended his compatriot, saying, “The Premier League is the toughest league in the world. Every team is strong, every player is fast and powerful, and there are no easy games anymore. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the problem isn’t with the coaches.”
He compared United’s struggles to an aquarium analogy: “If there’s a sick fish in an aquarium, you take it out, treat it, and put it back in, it will get sick again. That’s the issue with Manchester United. The problem isn’t always the coach. It’s much deeper. If I owned the club, I would fix the problems and bring harmony to whatever seems wrong.”
Ronaldo’s remarks hint at his future ambitions of owning a major club. He stated, “I’m not a coach, and I’ll never be one. A club president? No. But maybe I’ll own a club someday. It depends on the timing and the right opportunity.”
Since purchasing United in 2005, the Glazer family has faced relentless criticism from fans blaming them for the team’s poor performances. Last year, British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired a 25% stake in the club, but Ronaldo believes deeper issues remain unsolved.
When asked about direct communication with the Glazers, Ronaldo said, “I’m still young when it comes to these matters. I have many plans and dreams ahead. But mark my words: I will definitely own a major club someday.”
Ronaldo’s second stint at United ended in 2022 after a strained relationship with Ten Hag and controversial remarks criticizing the club’s owners and management. Currently playing for Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr, Ronaldo maintains that Ratcliffe’s involvement and coaching changes haven’t resolved the underlying problems at United.
He stood firmly behind Amorim, saying, “He did an incredible job at Sporting, my former club in Portugal. But the Premier League is different—it’s the most competitive league in the world. I knew it would be tough for him, with storms along the way. But the clouds will clear, and the sun will shine again. I wish Manchester United all the best because I still love this club.”
