Update: Ruben Amorim gets clear verdict as ex-Man United star sends ice-cold message to old club News

Ruben Amorim has endured a tough start to life at Manchester United, winning just six of his 22 Premier League games in charge, with the Red Devils currently 15th in the table

A former Manchester United player has cast doubt on Ruben Amorim’s ability to secure a top half finish next season after criticising his tenure as manager. The Portuguese coach took the reins at Old Trafford in November, replacing Erik ten Hag, but has suffered 11 losses in his 22 Premier League games, with only six wins.

United sit 15th in the table following a 1-0 home defeat to Wolves on Sunday, prompting questions about Amorim’s suitability for the role. The former Sporting Lisbon boss is expected to revamp his squad this summer in an attempt to reverse their fortunes.

However, ex-United goalkeeper Ben Foster has expressed scepticism about Amorim’s capabilities, criticising his decision to prioritise the Europa League by rotating his squad during the Premier League campaign. Foster surprisingly suggested that even Ruud van Nistelrooy could have performed better, despite presiding over Leicester City’s relegation to the Championship.

Van Nistelrooy had a brief stint as caretaker manager of the Red Devils earlier this season, securing three wins out of four. However, his reputation took a hit when Leicester’s relegation was confirmed after a 1-0 loss to Liverpool at the weekend.

Foster, who also had spells at Watford and Wrexham, feels United are a far cry from the team they were under Sir Alex Ferguson and is doubtful about their prospects of improving next season.

“It’s Man United by name now – that’s all it is,” he said on his ‘Fozcast’ podcast. “They’re a pale complexion of what they used to be. It’s damningly true. I don’t think they’ll get top ten next year.

“Would Ruud van Nistelrooy have done a better job than Ruben Amorim at Man United, if he’d stayed on? I think it’s a ‘probably’ because he had that respect, and I just don’t think that you could do much worse than Amorim has done.

“I don’t think Amorim is [the man for the job] either, to be honest with you. Amorim set his stall out last week when they won that game against Lyon and then he said he was basically going to play the kids for the rest of the season.

“It just signals that the Premier League doesn’t matter so subconsciously, all of those players will take their foot off the gas a little bit. They should have beaten Wolves, but they didn’t because it’s set in now.”

Meanwhile, Richard Keys has suggested that Gareth Southgate could be the right choice to lead United forward instead of Amorim. Speaking on beIN Sports, Keys praised Southgate’s track record with England and backed him to be an asset for United.

He said: “You cannot knock the fact he took England to two finals and was a whisker away from winning something. He is available, and he’s highly regarded as a coach.”

“His club career was not littered with success but what I’m saying is that he’s grown as a coach, working with the finest talent available, into somebody who is a big club character.

“So why not? I believe he’s someone who understands the modern player as well or better than most. Speak to people who have worked with him and they will give him a glowing reference.”