- Amorim soon backtracked on his comments and apologised for what he had said
- Neville has given his verdict, leaping to the defence of the United head coach
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Why the Arsenal players will be laughing at Mikel Arteta behind his back
Manchester United players would have been ‘killed’ by Ruben Amorim‘s assessment that they are part of ‘the worst team’ in the club’s history, Gary Neville has claimed.
Amorim came out with the alarming comment after United suffered a seventh defeat in 15 games under their new head coach against Brighton on Sunday. The 39-year-old also damaged a TV in the dressing-room during a post-match rant at Old Trafford.
‘We are the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United,’ Amorim admitted after the game.
Soon after, he apologised in a long comment, with some of it reading: ‘I’m a young guy and sometimes I make a mistake,’ he said ahead of Thursday’s Europa League tie against Rangers.
‘That’s why I don’t talk after the game. This game, I needed to talk and maybe it was a mistake and then I get more nervous and go to the press conference really nervous and say things I shouldn’t say, that’s it. I don’t promise you I won’t do it again, but I will try to improve.’
And former United defender-turned pundit Neville, speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, has given his assessment of the words, defending the current United boss.
Manchester United players would have been ‘killed’ by Ruben Amorim’s ‘worst team in history’ comments, Gary Neville has claimed
Amorim made the comments about his team after their latest defeat – by Brighton – last week
Neville leapt to the defence of the Red Devils manager, praising his passion and honesty
Red Devils captain Bruno Ferdnandes (right) has urged his team-mates to step up to the plate
‘I can sympathise with him because emotion and passion is everything I want in a football club and manager,’ he began. ‘It is hurting so he wants to come out and speak his mind and that is something I admire.
‘It is what we ask for, everybody to be honest and authentic. We can’t sit here as broadcasters and knock him for it. What I try and do to understand what the impact is, what would it be like in your own business? If you go into the office and your boss says you are the worst group of people they have had in the office, there would be devastation an the boss probably wouldn’t survive.
‘The employees would lose faith, confidence and belief so you can only imagine the impact it had on the players. Hearing it from your own manager is different, it has a deeper meaning. He rolled back probably because of people above or players who would say, “It kills us”.
‘Who is it directed at? Every player has got to ask themselves the question, “Does he mean me?” He will have realised the impact of his words on the people who he is asking to perform for him every week. But he needed to send a message to everybody that this needs to change dramatically.’
United will take on Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday, looking to improve form that has seen them drop to 13th in the league table. They could fall as low as 15th if they lose.
Captain Bruno Fernandes, meanwhile, also appeared to stick up for his manager in the build-up to the game, urging his team-mates to show they ‘have the balls to play for this club’.
‘The reality is to play here you have to have that pressure, you have to have the balls to play for this club — that is what it is,’ Fernandes said. ‘You have to feel that in every moment in every game it is a new chance to bring us back to the position we deserve.
‘Unfortunately for us this season there have been too many ups and downs and every time we look like getting there, we get punched again and go down.
‘What we have to do is every time we take a punch and go down, we must get up and try to punch back.’
