Despite the mounting pressure – United now languishing in 11th place with just seven points from eight games – club sources and pundits agree that the Portuguese manager retains the full backing of owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Omar Berrada. The loss, marked by defensive howlers and a failure to build on last week’s Chelsea win, has amplified calls for change, but insiders insist Amorim’s “long-term project” shields him from the sack. As Amorim faces a defining run against Tottenham, Arsenal, and Sunderland, the message from Old Trafford is unequivocal: patience prevails, but results must follow.
The match exposed United’s frailties in stark fashion. Brentford, revitalized under Thomas Frank, pounced early with Igor Thiago’s 8th-minute thunderbolt – a goal that survived a VAR offside scare – before Conor Bradley’s catastrophic back-pass gifted Kevin Schade a second in the 55th minute. Benjamin Sesko’s scrappy reply offered brief hope, but Thiago’s brace-clincher and Matthias Jensen’s 90+5 stoppage-time rocket sealed a rout that left United’s expected goals (xG) at a paltry 1.2 against Brentford’s 2.8. Amorim, fuming at full-time, blamed “gifted goals” and a lack of application: “We trained for this, but we didn’t execute. It’s on me to fix it.” Yet, the defeat – United’s third in eight league games – reignited sack talk, with fans chanting “Amorim out” on social media and forums like Reddit’s r/reddevils buzzing with frustration.
Enter the verdict: Amorim is safe. BBC Sport reports that United’s hierarchy “understands the journey under Amorim will be long,” emphasizing a commitment to avoid knee-jerk reactions after last season’s 15th-place finish. Ratcliffe, who handpicked Amorim in November 2024 for his tactical acumen at Sporting CP, views the 40-year-old as the architect of a youth-driven rebuild, backed by £200 million in summer spending on attackers like Bryan Mbeumo and Sesko. Sporting News echoes this, stating there’s “little reason to think things will change imminently,” with Amorim’s contract – running until 2027 – providing stability. Even in defeat, glimmers shine: Amorim praised Jordan Henderson’s “veteran nous” and noted United’s second-half fightback, insisting, “We’re close – one switch, and we dominate.”
Pundits offer a mixed but ultimately supportive chorus. Micah Richards, on BBC Sport, warned that Amorim’s “stubbornness” with his 3-4-3 system “could be his undoing,” but stopped short of demanding the boot: “Patience isn’t working yet, but sacking him now? Too soon.” Roy Keane, ever blunt, told Sky Sports, “He’s got to adapt – that midfield’s a mess without legs” – a nod to Casemiro’s labored display, where the Brazilian covered just 8.2 km and lost possession seven times. Xabi Alonso, in a separate interview, urged “serious measures” on the veteran anchor, calling him a “total waste” in high-pressing games, but framed it as tactical advice, not a dismissal call. Gary Neville, on his podcast, added levity: “Amorim’s passion is there, but results? He’s got three games to spark life – or the whispers turn to shouts.”
Social media reflects the divide. X posts under #AmorimOut surged to 60,000 mentions post-match, with one viral thread from @ManUtdMEN declaring, “Clear sack verdict after Brentford: ‘Just not working’ – Micah Richards.” Yet, counter-narratives abound: Daily Mail Sport’s analysis highlights Amorim’s “one glimmer of hope” in Thiago Almada’s creativity, suggesting a £130 million attacking duo (Sesko and Mbeumo) could click with tweaks. Fans on the platform are split – 52% in a MEN poll want him gone by October, but 48% back the “project.”
Amorim’s response? Defiant. In his pre-Tottenham presser, he addressed the noise: “I considered my position last season, but I’m here to build. Wins will come – trust the process.” With no consecutive league victories in 32 games under his belt, the next fortnight is pivotal. A points haul of seven from Spurs, Arsenal, and Sunderland could silence doubters; anything less, and even the “clear verdict” of support might waver. For now, Old Trafford holds firm: Amorim stays. But in the pressure cooker of United, verdicts can flip faster than a Fernandes free-kick.
