An insider revealed that Manchester United had planned to sack Amorim in advance, before the explosive interview that became the breaking point.
On 6 Jan 2026 GMT+7, a senior club source disclosed that Manchester United began considering the dismissal of the Portuguese coach before their Premier League match against Leeds United, following severely strained relations between Amorim and the club’s management, especially concerning cooperation with the football structure.
One day before that match, Amorim met with Football Director Jason Wilcox in what was meant to be a constructive feedback session. However, the discussion escalated into a heated argument. Amorim’s hot temper and inflexibility led many within the club to agree that continuing was no longer viable.
Importantly, Wilcox, who was seen as one of the last defenders of Amorim, began to realize that his views were not a minority opinion but rather reflected the direct perspective from the top of the club’s hierarchy.
Although Manchester United drew 1-1 with Leeds and remained sixth with hopes for European qualification, Amorim’s post-match interview at Elland Road triggered the decision to act. He said, “Everyone must do their own job,” which was widely interpreted as a clear jab at the board.
Sources confirmed that the decision to sack Amorim had already been made, and his remarks were the reason the club chose to "officially announce it immediately" the following morning. Omar Berrada, CEO, and Wilcox personally delivered the news.
A main point of dissatisfaction from the board was Amorim's stubbornness in tactics. He clung to a three-at-the-back system even though the team had shown progress after switching to four defenders, with more lively attacks and better results. Instead, he reverted to the old approach, leading to a slump with only three wins in the last 11 games.
Despite the club investing over £250 million during his tenure and granting him full time and authority to build the team, management expected "adaptation," which they believe never truly happened.
Ultimately, Amorim’s dismissal was not due to a single game, the Leeds draw, or the fiery interview alone but was the culmination of long-standing, irreconcilable differences that reached a point where neither side was willing to back down any further.