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The international break has done little to dampen the rumours swirling around Ruben Amorim's future at Manchester United. This comes on the back of reports that club officials have been in talks with key players to assess the current atmosphere within the squad.
Amorim, 40, is nearing his first anniversary at Old Trafford, having succeeded Erik ten Hag in November 2024. However, after steering the team to a record-low 15th-place finish in the Premier League last season, progress has been more sluggish than many anticipated.
United hit another nadir this season when they were ousted from the Carabao Cup by League Two outfit Grimsby Town. With Amorim's side still yet to clinch their first away victory of the campaign, club bosses have sought the opinions of certain players on how things are unfolding.
This situation mirrors the events that led to a marathon seven-hour meeting between Ten Hag and his former bosses this time last year. And it wasn't long after that the strategist was dismissed from his role.
Co-owner Joel Glazer, chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox all gathered at Ratcliffe's Knightsbridge offices in London to deliberate over the state of the club. Board member Jean-Claude Blanc, chief operating officer Collette Roche and chief financial officer Roger Bell were also believed to have been part of the summit.
Ten Hag lasted merely three weeks after that extensive meeting. And it might not be much longer before United's senior officials are compelled to gather once more as on-field problems continue to mount.
Berrada and Wilcox are believed to be spearheading recent conversations between the club's leadership and the playing staff. Skipper Bruno Fernandes is amongst those who have been approached, whilst additional viewpoints have also been canvassed.
It has been indicated the discussions were informal by nature and not necessarily intended to assess Amorim's position at the club as such. Nonetheless, it is not the type of activity one would typically observe at a club where everything is operating smoothly.
United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has repeatedly been forced to address enquiries concerning the manager's future. The Ineos billionaire has backed his head coach, suggesting he anticipates the Portuguese boss to stay at the club for the foreseeable future.
"He has not had the best of seasons," Ratcliffe said on the debut episode of The Business Podcast after describing Amorim as a decent bloke. "Ruben needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years. That's where I would be [on the topic of sacking Amorim]."
The comments come amidst escalating discontent from fans regarding the club's management.
The Glazer family's governance of United has been a persistent bone of contention for supporters, and Ratcliffe has struggled to change attitudes since purchasing nearly 30% of the club and taking over daily operations last year.
Names such as Oliver Glasner, Eddie Howe, Gareth Southgate and Diego Simeone have been floated in relation to the United managerial role of late. However, it appears that the current gaffer is set to remain in place for the time being.
Despite having managed 50 Premier League games, United's boss Amorim has yet to achieve consecutive victories in the competition. The Red Devils have had a successful run at home, including a 2-0 victory over Sunderland just before the international break, but their performance on the road continues to be a significant concern.
Currently sitting 10th in the league and two points off the top six, United are facing a challenging series of matches. Over the next month, they'll be going head-to-head with formidable opponents such as Liverpool, Brighton, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham.
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