Ruben Amorim Opens Up About His Darkest Moment at Man Utd When He Nearly Walked Away
Ruben Amorim has revealed that he contemplated his position at Manchester United following their Europa League final defeat, but now finds himself in a vastly different situation as his squad has "bonded" with him and begun demonstrating their genuine potential.
Amorim faced intense scrutiny to deliver results at Old Trafford after taking over from Erik ten Hag, and did successfully lead United to their first European final since 2021. However, the narrow loss to Tottenham Hotspur compounded the misery of an extremely poor domestic season—one that left the Red Devils in 15th place, easily their worst Premier League position since the competition began in 1992.
A summer rebuild, which brought Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško to revitalize United's attack, was sanctioned to provide Amorim with the appropriate player types for his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, and the Portuguese manager appears to have found his footing after securing three consecutive victories—United had been unable to string together wins of any description during Amorim's initial 11 months at the helm.
United's improved performances have dispelled the darkness that has surrounded Old Trafford for longer than most can recall, and a win against Nottingham Forest on Saturday could briefly elevate the club to second place in the Premier League standings.
Prior to the match, speaking with Sky Sports, Amorim has revealed for the first time that thoughts of resignation had entered his mind—something he had consistently avoided acknowledging in previous post-match discussions and media briefings.
"It's difficult to admit that. Occasionally, during certain periods," Amorim stated, acknowledging that United also managed just one victory in their opening five matches of 2025–26. "There were periods that were challenging to handle, losing so many matches. That was incredibly difficult for me because this is Manchester United.
"The situation we found ourselves in last season, focusing everything on the Europa League and coming up short. That was enormous. I experienced some periods where I really struggled and wondered if perhaps it wasn't destined to happen.
"Now it's completely different. So you can document this. Now I believe and understand that it was the greatest decision of my life. I want to remain here but for that I must defeat Nottingham Forest."
Amorim: The Hard Work Is Not Over Yet
Amorim emphasized that United still face challenges ahead and cannot become complacent about their recent progress. However, he acknowledged that the atmosphere and confidence at the club has advanced significantly—something that has enabled the players to focus on the crucial details that had previously undermined their efforts.
"It's difficult to determine. We must maintain optimism, but we also need to accept that football has its fluctuations. And we aren't yet the type of team where I can assure you, absolutely not.
"We might suffer defeats here and there, but we will persevere. I have greater faith in my players now. I believe they have more confidence in me too. That develops through victories. And you can feel that because everyone is now commenting on how unified they are and their belief in the manager.
"It comes down to winning matches. Not much has changed because against Arsenal, I witnessed the same squad, so I'm uncertain.
"I believe we're in a stronger position, but it's beneficial to maintain that awareness and prepare for potential changes. If we keep that mindset, we'll focus on the details and stay on our chosen path.
"I can state that we're a superior team at this moment, and we sense that and recognize it, and that can assist us in better navigating the difficult periods."