06 Jan 2026 19:06:44
But Telegraph Sport revealed on Monday morning that United’s hierarchy took the decision to dismiss Amorim before Sunday’s draw with Leeds United after the manager “lost it” with Wilcox on Friday morning.
Wilcox had intended the meeting to be a chance to discuss the evolution of the team but when the subject of Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system – to which he has been wedded – was raised the Portuguese “blew up”, according to sources.
Sources said Amorim’s behaviour had grown increasingly erratic in recent weeks and felt his public outbursts, in which he suggested he was being undermined and hinted at a power struggle with Wilcox and the board, were designed to engineer an exit.
07 Jan 2026 12:46:19
I hope I am wrong but I think after Amorim had players wanting to play for the club and the team behind him, this is meddling from the board in exactly what Amorim Was employed to do, which is coach the team. That includes setting the formation and style of play. It was coming and we were progressing.
The fallout is clearly over the board changing goalposts from Europe to being Champions League, trying to change the 3 year narrative without the extra investment. It's a rubbish show and this is a disastrous decision and we are back to square 1 yet again.
Look how many players have come out in support of Amorim and clarifying they saw him as their boss and leader. An absolutely terrible ego driven decision based on someone reacting emotionally to being doubted within and abused by Wlcox who openly admits to interfering and believing he's a bteer coach.
This is dreadfully short sighted and utterly incompetent.
07 Jan 2026 17:19:15
The DOF is perfectly entitled to question what's happening on the pitch without the coach throwing all his toys out of the pram. Rather than act as many of our players have done by going public the correct approach would have been either to arrange for discussions with the rest of the management team, and/or if there were indeed genuine tensions between Wilcox and his colleagues, to let that play out.
In tense situations tensions are quite normal as are disagreements. Mature individuals try to negotiate through them. After all, getting into the Champions League ought to have been the priority not just for the club but also Amorim since doing so would provide more funds for the rebuild. If that required a short term modification of approach a reasonable individual should at least consider being less rigid.