Amorim’s relationships at United were increasingly strained in the final weeks (Picture: Getty)
Ruben Amorim’s time at Manchester United ended in complete turmoil with one player ‘squaring up’ to the head coach in his final weeks in charge at Old Trafford.
After 14 months at the helm, Amorim was sacked on Monday the day after a wild press conference where the Portuguese hinted at major disagreements behind the scenes between him and director of football Jason Wilcox.
Amorim’s fate was sealed after a face-to-face meeting with Wilcox at Carrington on Friday with his 3-4-3 formation questioned again by United’s director of football.
Wilcox had stepped up efforts to convince Amorim to show more flexibility with his system with Sir Jim Ratcliffe among those keen to see a switch to four at the back.
With disagreements also over the club’s strategy in the January transfer window, the end result was Amorim telling the United hierarchy he was done.
Amorim’s relationship with certain players became strained over a lack of game time this season with Kobbie Mainoo among of them.
Others found communication to be an issue with The Athletic reporting one heated incident involving Lisandro Martinez and the head coach.
Martinez and Amorim were in a training ground stand-off (Picture: Getty Images)
Having spent most of the year out with a serious knee injury, Amorim was cautious over the defender’s return to action, making brief appearances off the bench in games against Crystal Palace, West Ham, Wolves and Bournemouth.
During that period, Martinez believed he was ready to start a game and felt Amorim was overlooking him. The result was a stand-off where Amorim responded in an ‘intense’ manner.
Martinez has since started United’s last three games, captaining the side in the absence of Bruno Fernandes.
A host of United players sent warm messages to Amorim following his departure with Mainoo among those staying silent.
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Instead, one supporter spotted the midfielder appearing to like a social media post celebrating his departure.
Mainoo did not start a league game under Amorim this season (Picture: Getty/Instagram)
Mainoo did not start a single Premier League game under Mainoo with the friction between the two a subplot throughout the first-half of the season. In all, he started just 16 of Amorim’s 63 games in charge in Manchester.
The Sun report the two were involved in a ‘shouting match’ at the training ground towards the end of last season.
Tensions have remained since with Mainoo’s brother Jordan highlighting the stand-off when he wore a ‘free Kobbie Mainoo’ t-shirt at Old Trafford in December.
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