07/01/2026

Read

iPaper at Malaysian Paper

www.thesun.my Free access to iPaper PDF Download

app from the App Store or Google Play TM . Malaysian Paper or download

SCAN ME

SCAN ME

WEDNESDAY | JAN 7, 2026

Malaysian Paper

Self-destruction! Amorim sealed own Man United fate with outburst: Neville

Ű BY WILL CASTLE

G ARY NEVILLE says he’s surprised at the timing but not Manchester United’s decision to sack Ruben Amorim as the Red Devils legend broke his silence on the news. Amorim was dismissed from his managerial post after 14 months in the role, with his explo sive rant following United’s 1-1 draw with Leeds on the weekend proving the final straw for the club’s hierarchy. It’s since emerged that Amorim had held a meeting with Oscar Berrada and Jason Wilcox on the Friday beforehand, in which the two United chiefs were apparently unimpressed to the Portuguese’s responses to being probed on the team’s formation and selection choices. Neville highlights that Amorim’s decision to go public with his unhappiness in his post match press conference at Elland Road was only going to lead to one outcome, regardless of your line of work.

“There have been bright sparks. I thought Leeds was a decent performance. The Wolves one, that was the killer game, it was a bad one, that.” Despite United’s questionable form combining with Amorim’s act of defiance, Neville was never theless surprised at the speed of his dismissal, coming less than 24 hours after the Leeds result. “It’s a surprise it happened this morning, I didn’t realise it would happen so quickly. It usually ends one way, try work out what to do. They decided to do it very quickly,” he said. Former United midfielder Paul Scholes felt Amorim “talked him self into it” by questioning the hierarchy at Old Trafford and said the club should get England man ager Thomas Tuchel in a full-time successor following this year’s World Cup in June and July. “I think Tuchel is one of the very best out there,” Scholes said on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast with former United teammate Nicky Butt. “He would be my No. 1 target – and his contract with England is only until the summer.” “I think he can be a bit tem peramental and he could be quite difficult to handle, but he has done it at big clubs.” Former England striker Gary Lineker said Amorim was the wrong man to manage a club he labelled a “basket case”. “The players didn’t suit the way he plays and the club should have recognised that,” Lineker told the Rest is Football podcast, adding:

“After the Wolves game, it (the meeting) would take place at every single football club. These are conversations that have to happen when disappointing per formances come.” He added: “I’ve complimented United... but some of the perform ances in the last month – losing to 10 men against Everton, the per formance with West Ham, every one is beating West Ham, every one is beating Wolves, Man United drew with Wolves. The results have been shocking.

“In the last week, he’s decided he doesn’t feel supported, or happy,” Neville said, insisting the club were right to meet with the manager after United’s dismal 1-1 draw to rock-bottom Wolves. “He’s called it on and decided at press conferences to unleash at times, be emotional and do what he does, he’s always done it with integrity. “The reality of it, when you turn on your bosses, at a football club or at Morrisons, you won’t keep your job very long.

“Also, it’s been bit of a basket case of a football club over the last few years.” Key to Amorim’s downfall was a reluctance to move away from his 3-4-2-1 system, staying loyal to the ideology despite persistent poor results and apparent alter natives being available. Neville called on United to rediscover their “DNA” rather than let managers with a fixed philosophy control their style of play. “Manchester United must take risks, be courageous and play attacking, aggressive football,” Neville said. “Ajax will never change for anybody. Barcelona will never change for anybody. I don’t believe Man United should change for anybody. They should play in the way in which they play. “These managers that have come in are fantastic managers: Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Erik ten Hag, Ruben Amorim, they’re brilliant coaches. “You can’t say they’re not good coaches, but they’ve all come in with different ideas, different styles of play, different philoso phies, and none of them really fit the Manchester United way. “So for me, the club have to find the manager now who’s got experience, who’s willing to play fast, entertaining, attacking aggressive football, simple as that.” – The Independent/AFP More on page 30

’’ ‘‘ The reality of it, when you turn on your bosses, at a football club or at Morrisons, you won’t keep your job very long.

World champs show class Story on page 31

Gary Neville

theSun is published and printed by Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd (221220-K) of Lot 6, Jalan 51/217, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-7784 6688 • Tel (Editorial): 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7785 2625 Email: newsdesk@thesundaily.com • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Email: advertise@thesundaily.com