Ruben Amorim admits Dan Ashworth’s exit is “not the best situation” but believes the departure of Manchester United’s sporting director “doesn’t change” anything.
Sunday morning brought the stunning announcement that the 53-year-old was leaving Old Trafford just 159 days after arriving from Newcastle.
United spent several months negotiating Ashworth’s appointment, with Ashworth – who also worked for the FA and Brighton – spending a period of time on gardening leave from St James’ Park.
Amorim faced the media for the first time since the sporting director’s abrupt exit ahead of Thursday’s Europa League group game at Viktoria Plzen, where the first questions focused on that development.
“The first thing I want to say is that since the first day I felt great support from the ownership,” the United head coach said.
“From Omar [Berrada, chief executive], from Dan, from Jason (Wilcox, technical director). Dan was part of that and I really felt support from Dan.
“But this is football and sometimes these things happen. It happens with players, with coaches.
“I know that it’s not the best situation but the important thing is we continue in our way. The path is really clear for everybody and I think this can happen in football.”
Amorim: The vision at Man Utd is clear
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Sky Sports’ Peter Smith explains why Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has repeatedly reshuffled his starting XI
Asked if he is concerned that United were more unstable than when he first arrived a month ago, Amorim said: “I don’t think so.
“Like I said, I’ve felt since day one the support from everybody, so one person leaving doesn’t change nothing.
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Sky Sports senior reporter Melissa Reddy provided further details behind sporting director Dan Ashworth’s departure at Manchester United after just five months
“Of course it’s a bad situation because we are talking about a human being, a professional, that supports us as a team.
“But I think the most important thing is that your vision is really clear and that vision doesn’t change if only one person leaves.”
‘Man Utd have no money to spend’
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Highlights of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest
Sky Sports News’ Melissa Reddy speaking on the Transfer Talk podcast:
“Man Utd do not have money [to spend on transfers]. It’s wild reading the transfer news and gossip on a daily basis, and you see who they’re linked to and thinking, ‘where on earth are they going to get this money from for all these forwards?’
“They have made it quite clear – and it was communicated to Ruben Amorim – that the financial constraints are real. He has to extract the maximum from the talents at the club. That was part of the reasons they brought him in.
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Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher is critical of the initial impact INEOS have made since coming into Manchester United, which has culminated in the departure of sporting director Dan Ashworth after just five months
“He’s got a very good track record of individual development and developing the collective. We’ve seen teething issues with his structure so far, but over time they’re banking on him getting the right parts in place and really bringing it home.
“They have continuously said they won’t go on a spending spree like there was under Erik ten Hag and that they are going to operate in a much more sustainable approach.”
Ashworth’s manic 10 months with Man Utd
February 2024 – Manchester United approach Newcastle for sporting director Dan Ashworth, as the Magpies place him on gardening leave. Sir Jim Ratcliffe publicly calls Ashworth “one of the best sporting directors in the world” and calls Newcastle’s negotiation over the transfer chief’s move “absurd”.
May 2024 – It is revealed that Ashworth and new United chief executive Omar Berrada engaged in email conversations about moving to Manchester United while they were still employed by other Premier League clubs. Competition rules state that clubs and directors should behave towards each other with the “utmost good faith”.
July 2024: Manchester United finally appoint Ashworth on July 1 – five months after their initial approach was revealed. Newcastle wanted to hold out for £20m in compensation but a compromise was met with United.
August 2024: The first summer transfer window with Ashworth’s input comes to a close, with United spending over £200m on new players and bringing in over £110m in sales.
September 2024: After Man Utd are beaten 3-0 by Liverpool, Ashworth and Berrada reveal they had no input in the decision to keep Erik ten Hag over the summer. However, Ashworth says he has “really enjoyed working” with the Dutchman.
October 2024: Erik ten Hag is sacked by Manchester United after a 2-1 defeat to West Ham leaves them 14th in the Premier League.
November 2024: Man Utd appoint Ruben Amorim as Ten Hag’s successor, with Berrada the key figure involved in the talks with Sporting over the Portuguese manager’s move. United spent an extra €1m (£840,000) over his €10m (£8.37m) exit clause to secure Amorim early.
December 2024: Ashworth leaves United after a 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
