Exclusive: Amorim Right Not to Bow to Pressure Says Ex-Man Utd Star Higginbotham

Ruben Amorim is right not to bow to pressure by abandoning his footballing principles, former Manchester United defender Danny Higginbotham has insisted, despite watching the Portuguese struggle since taking charge at Old Trafford.

Appointed in November following a successful spell at Sporting Lisbon, where he won two Primeira Liga titles, Amorim’s arrival was welcomed by supporters who had grown tired of the team’s chequered results under Erik ten Hag.

Renowned for developing young talent and a cohesive style of play, the 40-year-old has so far failed to impose his methods on the 20-time English champions with a series of inconsistent, often unconvincing, performances leaving them mid-table in the Premier League.

Amorim famously described the squad he inherited as “the worst” in United’s fabled history following a recent defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion before later apologising for that remark.

Inevitably, given their struggles this term, some pundits have called for him to adopt a strategy similar to the one implemented by his Dutch predecessor - claiming that radical change can only be implemented between seasons.

But, speaking exclusively to SportsBoom, Higginbotham has warned that would be a mistake and “a waste” of the next four months.

“Listen, United aren’t going to go down,” he said. “That’s not going to happen, no matter what anyone is shouting about."

“So, if they’re playing crap and picking up a few results which see them finish - let’s say - ninth rather than 13th or 14th, what’s gained from that? Nothing, It would be a complete waste of time."

“There’s no quick fixes at United. We all know what was happening before he came in. Things haven’t been right for a while and you can’t turn things around overnight."

“Listen, it would be different if United were in the relegation zone. Then, you do whatever is required to stay up."

"I’d be saying something different. But they’re not (in the bottom three) are they. And they won’t be.”

“What I think he’s on right now is a fact-finding mission. I think he’s learning about his players, watching them in action and seeing how they respond to certain situations."

"Then, he’ll really get to work in the summer and that’s when, in August, we should really start to judge him. Only then.”

Elaborating on his theory, Higginbotham continued: “Not so long back, when United were 3-2 down to Nottingham Forest, he rook Bruno Fernandes off."

"I, like a lot of other people, were probably thinking: If you need a goal, that’s the last thing you should be doing."

“But then, thinking about it some more, I reckon he (Amorim) was trying to see how the rest of the players reacted."

“It’s the same as when United lost to Newcastle at home. He went with Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in midfield and everyone was thinking that was mad."

"I think he was sending out a message that I need more. I need better players and the majority of those are going to come in during the summer.”

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Higginbotham, now a well-known commentator and analyst on MLS Soccer, made his debut for United in 1998 after progressing through their youth system. 

Capped three times by Gibraltar towards the end of his career, Higginbotham also represented the likes of Southampton, Derby County, Stoke City and Sheffield United before retiring as a player.

“Ruben is the first permanent manager to come in at United mid-season for a long time,” Higginbotham said. 

“There’s new owners as well and they’ll have told him to make changes, that will be part of his remit and he’ll want to make them as well."

“There’s no point, in my opinion, waiting until the summer to implement those changes. What would be gained by that?"

“Looking at what he’s doing, he’s finding out about his players and whether or not they can do what he wants them to do."

"Then, when he gets the chance to bring some of his own ones in, United will be in a far better position moving forward because even the ones who remain will be across what the manager does.”