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Martin Keown hints at Ruben Amorim issue that shows he could be on verge of sack

talksport.com, 17 February 2025, 15:06
Martin Keown highlighted an issue that suggests Ruben Amorim may have already lost the Man United dressing room.

Tottenham clinched back-to-back Premier League victories with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over a beleaguered Manchester United on Sunday.

They endured an early onslaught of opportunities, with the returning Guglielmo Vicario executing a remarkable double save to thwart both Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho.

James Maddison then scored the crucial goal just minutes later, finishing the rebound after Lucas Bergvall's effort was parried by Andre Onana.

The hosts climbed to 12th in the table with 30 points, leapfrogging United, who languish just one point and three places below them.

It was a disastrous afternoon for United, and Martin Keown joined Jim White and Simon Jordan on talkSPORT Breakfast where they dissected their struggles.

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When asked if Amorim has lost the dressing room, Keown said: "I don't think they are tuned in and believe everything. There must be an issue.

"I looked at the game where he took [Joshua] Zirkzee off after 33 minutes and thought that it was the manager's fault.

"I don't think they needed two strikers (against Spurs); they needed an extra midfielder."

Jim White then probed Keown if the fixture had the aroma of a mid-table clash.

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Keown replied: "Yes, I am really concerned about Man United.

"This once-great club, look at Amorim's record since he's been there, which is 14 Premier League games, four wins, and eight losses.

"Whereas look at Everton, in the same amount of time for David Moyes, a former United manager, are getting results. You could argue his players maybe aren't quite as good, but this once-great club is now falling from a great height.

"The panic button is close to being pressed. You can't keep performing as they did yesterday.

"The tactics are flawed; we've been saying it for weeks now. The midfield, Casemiro sitting on his own, Spurs exploiting that with two players in those pockets. James Maddison ran the show. Fernandes was a boy lost on the pitch.

"Are you genuinely concerned for them now?" White asked.

"Do we want to see United go out of the top flight? Do we enjoy the rivalry they create in the Premier League?" Keown suggested.

White responded: "Is it going to come to that? Exiting the top flight?"

Keown said: "They're looking over their shoulder.

"They've got nine substitutes; eight of them are kids. They're not kids of former years either; it's not like Ryan Giggs and Phil Neville.

"There's a big problem and the manager doesn't seem to know."

The pressure on Amorim shows no signs of relenting, with eight losses in 12 games, a record only slightly superior to Leicester and Southampton, who currently reside in the relegation zone.

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