Improve or Wait: Man United stars left with two options ahead of crucial Sunderland test
Manchester United welcome Sunderland to Old Trafford on Saturday in a Premier League showdown with massive stakes.
For manager Ruben Amorim, the game could be make-or-break, with his job hanging by a thread.
After a nightmare start to the 2025–26 season, pressure is mounting for the Portuguese coach to rip up his blueprint and focus on getting three points.
However, the 40-year-old has shown no signs of giving up on his 3-4-2-1 formation.
We believe he is ready to go down swinging, sticking to his principles rather than compromise.
The ball is now in the players’ court.
They have the option to either show confidence in their manager and fight for his job. Or, they can simply turn up without any real passion, collect their hefty paychecks, and wait until INEOS pull the trigger on the head coach.
The Portuguese manager formed a six-man leadership group before the start of this campaign.
Yet that structure is already crumbling.
Tom Heaton and Lisandro Martinez are yet to play this season while Noussair Mazraoui has already been sidelined twice with injury.
Diogo Dalot recently returned from injury but produced a disastrous display against Brentford.
Harry Maguire was at fault for Brentford’s opener, and Bruno Fernandes has uncharacteristically missed two penalties already this season.
When your leaders falter, how can the younger players be expected to lift the team’s fortunes.
In today’s world, the players can sense when the manager could be sacked.
That awareness often saps their intensity, as they bide their time until a new coach arrives, bringing fresh energy and new ideas.
INEOS have stood firmly behind Amorim for 11 months, but patience is wearing thin as results fail to materialise on the pitch.
If the downward spiral continues, the dressing room itself could take matters into its own hands and approach the hierarchy to push for a managerial change.
The contest against the Black Cats carries huge importance, one that could define the fate of Amorim and the Red Devils.
Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .