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After a tumultuous last few days, things finally came to a head at Manchester United on Friday.
After struggling to a disappointing draw at home to bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers while playing in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, Jason Wilcox was forced to step in.
According to The Athleticsthe football director suggested to the head coach during a one-on-one meeting in Carrington on Friday that he should return to a four-man backline instead of playing with three men at the back.
The article makes it clear that Amorim is not particularly fond of people who criticize his system, and the meeting quickly turned fiery.
The heated encounter of Ruben Amorim and Jason Wilcox
Wilcox went on to talk about how the players looked confused while playing his way, especially as the players were often trained as a back four in training to start the match with a back three.
Many players also felt that Amorim did not fully trust them. The Portuguese tactician claimed those players needed to be changed, with Wilcox suggesting wholesale changes would take place but would take time.
Then came the bombshell: Amorim, unhappy with the interference and lack of help, said he wanted to quit and talk to his agent about this. Subsequently, the team meeting scheduled for later that day was canceled.
“Although the seeds of Amorim’s downfall at Manchester United were sown at various stages, the ground finally fell from under him during a stormy meeting with Wilcox on Friday.
Amorim rages and asks to stop
“Amorim, those at United would argue, was the catalyst, which erupted when the discussion turned to tactics and transfers. Amorim had felt like he was sneaking into his territory in recent weeks and the result has been described by sources close to the club as a “massive row” between the pair.
During their face-to-face meeting at Carrington, Wilcox suggested to Amorim that the players were struggling to gain confidence in his 3-4-2-1 system and had become confused about his vision. Amorim would train the team in a back four, only to select a back three in matches. They also felt he lacked confidence in them due to his selections and public statements.
“Amorim responded that the players needed to be changed. Wilcox said he wanted to solve the problems, develop the team over time, but stay with Amorim. Amorim responded by saying he wanted to leave the club and would call his agent.”
“The consequences were so seismic that a meeting between Amorim and his team that was due to take place afterwards was cancelled.”
Sir Jim wasn’t a fan of Amorim’s style either
Interestingly, Sir Jim Ratcliffe was also not a fan of Amorim’s style and had instructed Wilcox to ensure changes were made to the system.
That made the situation even more delicate, and the disastrous Wolves display eventually forced that fateful meeting at Carrington that led to the final sack.
Wilcox wouldn’t be a fan of Amorim’s vision either, but the head coach promised he would change over time.
But they simply didn’t come. The win in Newcastle should have been the catalyst for positive change, but Amorim’s adamant attitude cost the club against the Molineux side.
The Wolves game sealed Amorim’s fate
“Ratcliffe has made clear his desire for United to move to a back four and it is felt that Wilcox has stepped up his efforts to convince Amorim to show more flexibility. United insiders say an evolution was always part of the plan, with Amorim initially telling officials he wanted to start with a back three but would add layers once players better understood his methods.”
“But now that Ratcliffe had an opinion on the team, things became more delicate. Dealing with Ratcliffe’s input is one of Wilcox’s most important tasks.
“But when Amorim returned to his 3-4-2-1 for the visit of Wolves, the substitution of Joshua Zirkzee, one of his few senior strikers, caused concern for members of United’s hierarchy.
Interestingly, Ruben Amorim switched to a four-man backline after another failed experiment at Elland Road. That paid off, further infuriating the head coach, whose post-match comments sealed his departure.
Feature image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images
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