“I totally regret signing for Man United. I love the club but the higher ups in the club are completely selfish and they are making decisions that are badly affecting the club. If things are going like this, I would have to sign myself” – This is according to Ruben Amorim as he has openly expressed his regret about taking the Manchester United job following a disastrous start to his tenure.

Ruben Amorim’s tenure at Manchester United has begun disastrously, with the Portuguese coach suffering six defeats in his first 11 games since leaving Sporting CP. Despite his early struggles, Amorim has openly acknowledged that he had hoped to remain with Sporting until the end of the season to complete his work there.

After arriving at Old Trafford in November, Amorim has faced the relentless demands of English football, navigating a grueling winter schedule with games every few days. Following United’s recent 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United, Amorim admitted he had managed only four full training sessions with his entire squad since taking over.

The Red Devils are languishing near the bottom of the Premier League form table since Amorim’s debut match, a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town, and they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup after a 4-3 loss to Tottenham. With upcoming matches against Liverpool and Arsenal, the prospect of six consecutive defeats looms large.

United’s decision to part ways with Erik ten Hag after their worst-ever season start led to Amorim’s appointment. However, the magnitude of the task — overhauling an underperforming squad and implementing a new system — was evident from the outset.

Amorim has admitted he preferred to stay at Sporting until the summer but was forced into a quick decision when United made it clear they wanted him immediately. Reflecting on his departure, he said:

“The season was going well at Sporting when Manchester United approached. They paid above the compensation clause, and I understood the club’s position. For three days, I expressed my wish to stay until the end of the season, but it wasn’t possible. I was told it was now or never, so I had to make a decision that changed my life drastically.”

Had United been willing to wait, Amorim might have remained in Lisbon. His public remarks about preferring to stay could also be seen as an effort to mend relations with Sporting fans, who were understandably upset by his abrupt exit.

Looking at his current struggles at Manchester United, it’s plausible that Amorim still harbors some regret over the decision to leave Sporting mid-season, given how drastically his fortunes have shifted since making the move.