Cristiano Ronaldo has backed Ruben Amorim to turn around Manchester United's fortunes by insisting the “storm will pass” at Old Trafford under his fellow Portuguese.
Amorim has had a difficult start at United, losing five of his first 10 matches since replacing Erik Ten Hag last month.
The 39-year-old even suggested after the 2-0 defeat to Wolves – a third successive loss in all competitions – that his job would be in jeopardy if United did not find their form soon.
“(Amorim) did a great job in Portugal with (Club) Sporting,” Ronaldo said during the Globe Soccer Awards ceremony in Dubai, where the Al-Nasr striker received the Middle East Player of the Year award for 2024.
“But the Premier League is a different beast, the most competitive league in the world.
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Amorim says every coach is under pressure and can in no way feel “comfortable” in his position at Old Trafford, especially after a run of three straight defeats.
“I knew it would be difficult and that they would continue to storm. But the storm would end and the sun would rise.
“Fingers crossed it will be good for him and I hope it's the best for Manchester United because it's the club I still love.”
Ronaldo: The same problem at Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo will leave Manchester United for the second time at the end of 2022
Ronaldo's second spell at United ended in November 2022 after a dramatic TV interview with broadcaster and journalist Piers Morgan.
United terminated the five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo's contract criticizing owners the Glazer family, the standard of facilities at the club and then-manager Ten Hag.
Ronaldo said: “I said this a year and a half ago and I will continue to say it: The problem is not the coaches.
Ronaldo won the Middle East Player of the Year award at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai
“It's like an aquarium, where you have a fish in there and it's sick, you take it out and fix the problem.
“If you put him back in the tank he will get sick again. That's the problem with Manchester United. It's the same problem.”
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Highlights of the English Premier League match between Wolverhampton and Manchester United
Childhood fan Sir Jim Ratcliffe has taken a stake in United since Ronaldo's departure for Saudi Arabia and now owns nearly 29 per cent of the club.
Ratcliffe's company Ineos controls the football operations at Old Trafford, but despite winning the FA Cup last season, fortunes on the pitch have not improved.
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Manchester United defender Harry Maguire said the team trusts new coach Ruben Amorim and supports him to succeed because he is a “winner”.
United currently sit 14th in the Premier League, just eight points above the relegation zone.
When asked if the situation at United was the same as it was when he left, Ronaldo replied: “100 percent. If I were the owner of the club, I would have clarified things and corrected what I thought was bad there.”
“I'm still very young, and I have a lot of plans and dreams ahead. Mark my words, I'll be the owner of a big club, for sure.”
