Gary Neville has labeled Ruben Amorim’s insistence on being a “manager” rather than a “coach” as a sign of deep-rooted frustration with Manchester United’s leadership and recruitment structure.
Gary Neville has heavily criticized Ruben Amorim’s recent post-match conduct, describing the Manchester United boss’s press conference remarks as “bizarre.”
Following a 1-1 draw at Leeds, Amorim pointedly insisted he is a “manager, not a coach,” hinting at a 18-month timeline for his tenure.
Neville likened the outburst to Enzo Maresca’s recent friction at Chelsea, suggesting that Amorim is “not feeling the support” from the club’s hierarchy and is beginning to publicly “let loose.”
The tension centers on Amorim’s desire for greater control over recruitment, the academy, and club operations.
The Portuguese tactician stated, “I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach… And that is going to finish in 18 months and then everyone is going to move on.”
Neville argued that the title of “manager” is largely obsolete in modern football, suggesting Amorim’s demands indicate significant discontent with the existing departmental structure at Old Trafford.
Amorim also directly addressed Neville’s recent television criticisms, prompting the pundit to respond on his Sky Sports podcast.
Neville dismissed the personal swipe, noting that managers often target pundits during difficult periods. He clarified, “I am going to call out when I see things that aren’t right because that’s my job.
That aside, the bigger problem… is more the problem of what he’s saying is happening behind the scenes.”