Ruben Amorim branded 'really stubborn' amid warning of 'messy' end to season for Manchester United - 'Really poor side'

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Former Chelsea star Joe Cole has warned Manchester United fans that the rest of their season is "going to be messy". Meanwhile, Don Hutchison has questioned Amorim and Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou for prioritising their philosophy over results in the short term, as both clubs face struggles this term. Stream the UEFA Europa League on discovery+.

'It's going to be messy' - Cole tells Man Utd fans to 'strap in' for rest of season

Video credit: TNT Sports

Manchester United fans have been warned that their run to the end of the season is "going to be messy" as Ruben Amorim battles to turn their fortunes around.

United have endured six Premier League defeats in 11 games since Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag as manager in November, with the 40-year-old having admitted earlier this month that the club’s results were "unacceptable".

Ahead of United’s UEFA Europa League encounter with FCSB on Thursday, the TNT Sports panel mulled over Amorim's tenure to date.

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On the Europa League Goals Xtra show, former Chelsea and England star Joe Cole said: "I think he [Amorim] is going to get it right there. I think he’ll improve given time, but the style he wants to play that we saw at [Sporting] Lisbon, they haven’t got the personnel to do it.

"So when you’re recruiting him, and you’re sitting down with him and saying to him, ‘How do you want to play, show us how you play?’ If you’ve got football people in the board they will know that maybe Kobbie Mainoo can’t do that role, maybe Bruno [Fernandes] can’t play in that role before he’s even in the door.

"If you’re a Man Utd fan, strap in, because it’s going to be messy from now until the end of the season, and they have to get it right in the summer."

Don Hutchison criticised Amorim and Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou for prioritising philosophy over results in the short term.

"I think what we’re seeing from Ruben and Ange are guys that are really stubborn," Hutchison said. "They’re steadfast in what they want to do, so it comes across well because you can get on board with it. But in the short term, you have to be flexible enough to get results.

"I was on the Leicester game against Tottenham, and [Leicester manager] Ruud van Nistelrooy changed his whole shape and went to a back five and brought Oliver Skipp on to protect what they had at 2-1.

'A really poor side' - Hargreaves and Savage rate Amorim's tenure at Man United

Video credit: TNT Sports

"I isolate those two because they’re at very big jobs and they’re going through difficult times, but they’re not doing what’s the best for the players in the short term. Long term, have your beliefs, but short term you need results."

Owen Hargreaves and Robbie Savage rated Amorim’s start at United as a four out of 10 and a three out of 10 respectively.

Hargreaves said: "It's probably going to be messy until the summer. It’s going to be up and down. But they’ve got to find a way to get more results in the short term. They’ve not really played well and not getting results so it’s a bad mix."

Savage added: "I don’t think they’ve got the players to do that [the current style of football]. Is Bruno a 6? Is he a 10? He chops and changes.

"With the lack of creativity and lack of goals, I think it’s a really poor Manchester United side."

Stream the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and much more live on TNT Sports and discovery+

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