Harry Maguire drops verdict on Ruben Amorim's disastrous Manchester United stint: ‘The ideas just didn’t work'

During his stint, Ruben Amorim averaged only 1.23 points per game, the lowest of any Manchester United manager in the Premier League era.

Published on: Mar 26, 2026, 16:53:51 IST

Written by Neelav Chakravarti

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Harry Maguire praised Ruben Amorim's tenure at Manchester United. Despite Amorim being sacked in January after a poor 14-month spell, Maguire feels the Portuguese was key in building a solid squad. Amorim's stint saw United win only 24 of 63 games, and he faced constant criticism for his tactics.

Harry Maguire spoke about Ruben Amorim's Manchester United stint. (REUTERS)

Maguire defended Amorim, pointing out that he had 'good ideas' but they didn't 'work at Manchester United.' During his stint, Amorim averaged only 1.23 points per game, the lowest of any United manager in the Premier League era. The next worst is Ralf Rangnick's 1.54 points per game.

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'He's got great ideas. They just didn't work at Manchester United'

Speaking to The Mirror, he said, "I think Ruben was really good with me. I pretty much played every game under Ruben when I was fit. I don’t really have much bad to say about Ruben. I really like Ruben, I think he’s got great ideas. The ideas just didn’t work at Manchester United. I do believe he’ll go on and have an amazing career, and his next club he’ll probably go and win many, many football matches."

"I spoke to him when he left. He wished us all the best. I’m sure he would have been upset, but I know he’s still really, really young and I’m sure he’s going to go on to great things in management."

"It just didn’t click or work and I think us as players have got to take a lot of responsibility for that as well. But I think he has led the club in a direction, and I do think he deserves a lot of credit for that, where he’s built a good, solid squad and I do believe that he deserves credit for that," he added.

Amorim also won less than a third of his Premier League games with United. He bagged 15 wins, 19 losses and drew 13 out of 47. He lost a third of his matches overall as United manager, the worst record since Frank O'Farrell's reign ended in 1972.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neelav Chakravarti
Neelav Chakravarti has been part of the digital sports team at Hindustan Times since 2022, where he covers a wide range of disciplines, including chess, cricket, football, and Olympic sports. Working in a fast-paced digital newsroom, he regularly handles live blogs, breaking updates, and trending stories, combining speed with clarity to keep readers informed in real time. Chess remains both a professional beat and a personal passion for Neelav, and he closely tracks major international tournaments, player narratives, and emerging talents. He is particularly fascinated by the patience, calculation, and strategic depth the game demands, often exploring the psychological side of competition in his writing. Beyond sports journalism, Neelav has a deep interest in visual storytelling and filmmaking, actively participating in film festivals and engaging with independent cinema. He is especially drawn to films that capture the subtleties of everyday life and human relationships, appreciating storytelling that balances realism with emotional depth. This creative interest complements his approach to sports coverage, where he enjoys highlighting the human stories behind performances and results. A history enthusiast by academic training, Neelav holds a bachelor’s degree in the subject and maintains a sustained interest in ancient and medieval Indian history, particularly in cultural and social transitions across eras. His curiosity about the past often shapes his perspective on contemporary narratives and long-form storytelling. When he isn’t tracking scores or developing storylines, Neelav enjoys spending time over the chessboard, relaxing with his cats, or listening to the Empire podcast by Anita Anand and William Dalrymple. He also enjoys reading long-form sports writing that explores the emotional and cultural layers of sport, while maintaining a quiet routine that balances reading, reflection, and occasional time with friends.Read More

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