Prior to the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United legend David Beckham delivered an important warning to head coach Ruben Amorim.
David Beckham was part of one of the most successful eras in Manchester United history, winning six Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League. But today’s United is far removed from those glory days. Ahead of the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur, the Inter Miami co-owner offered a pointed message to current head coach Ruben Amorim.
United currently sit in 16th place in the Premier League—the lowest position in club history. However, Amorim has a chance to salvage the season with a European trophy. In this critical moment, Beckham shared his honest thoughts on the Portuguese manager.
“I believe that we have a very good manager now. I believe that we have a lot of people who are trying to bring stability around the club. What our fans care about most, though, is what happens on the field and what is happening on the field, people are not liking — our fans are not liking,” the English legend told The Athletic.
Despite the on-field struggles, Beckham praised United fans for their loyalty: “But the one thing is, our supporters turn up week after week. There are 74,000 fans in that stadium no matter what, no matter how we’re playing or who’s playing. The manager knows that, the manager understands that. It’s why I like Ruben and I think he has got a real opportunity here.”
“He’s a young manager with success already under his belt and great experience for his age. So I think he will make the changes that he needs to make,” Beckham concluded, expressing optimism about the future under Amorim.
From the brink of resignation to a European final
Ruben Amorim was appointed United manager in November following the mid-season dismissal of Erik ten Hag. Leaving behind a highly successful tenure at Sporting Lisbon, Amorim was tasked with restoring United’s identity and success. But so far, the transition has been anything but smooth.
He struggled to implement his tactical system early on, with United enduring one of their worst runs in January—managing just one win in eight games. According to ESPN’s Mark Ogden, Amorim was even considering resigning before members of the coaching staff and board persuaded him to stay.
His record at United has fallen well short of his previous standards. As OptaJoe noted, Amorim has lost 14 of his first 26 Premier League games—matching the total number of league defeats he suffered across 167 Primeira Liga matches with Braga and Sporting CP.
Still, Wednesday’s Europa League final against Tottenham offers him a golden opportunity. Not only could it deliver United their first European trophy since 2017, but it would also secure a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League—restoring hope that Amorim is the right man to lead the club back to the top.
