Ruben Amorim's former assistant explains why Man United project faltered
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Amorim was dismissed in January following a difficult 14-month spell at Old Trafford.
Despite arriving with a strong reputation after a trophy-laden period at Sporting CP, his time in the Premier League proved far more turbulent than anticipated.
And Cândido believes the coaching team simply did not receive enough time to fully implement their long-term vision.
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Key takeaways
- Adélio Cândido speaks about Ruben Amorim's Manchester United exit.
- Amorim lasted 14 months at Old Trafford before January dismissal.
- He recorded a 38.1% Premier League win rate.
- Tactical ideas, including a back-three system, struggled to take hold.
- Internal tensions reportedly worsened the situation.
Amorim's difficult spell at Old Trafford
When Amorim took charge of United, expectations were high.The 41-year-old had built a reputation as one of Europe's most promising young managers after leading Sporting to domestic success with a modern tactical approach.
However, translating that success to English football proved challenging.
During his 14-month tenure, Amorim won fewer than one third of his 47 Premier League matches, finishing with a 38.1% win rate.
The club's hierarchy eventually decided to act after a prolonged run of inconsistent results.
United's performances often appeared disjointed, as players struggled to adapt to the tactical demands of Amorim's system.
Tactical vision struggled to take hold
A key part of Amorim's philosophy was his signature back-three formation, which had delivered remarkable results in Portugal.At United, however, implementing that structure proved difficult.
The squad often looked caught between two approaches: adapting to a complex tactical blueprint whilst also coping with the relentless pace and physicality of the Premier League.
According to Cândido, the coaching staff felt the process required more time.
Speaking to Portuguese outlet A Bola, he said:
In Manchester, I liked the city a lot and the way the fans live and breathe football, more focused on the project than on immediate results.His comments underline the core issue faced by the staff: trying to build a long-term footballing identity at a club where short-term results carry enormous pressure.
What I liked less was feeling that our ideas were not being fully implemented.
Internal tensions behind the scenes
Beyond the struggles on the pitch, reports suggested that internal issues also contributed to Amorim's downfall.Relations between the coaching team and the club's sporting structure reportedly cooled during the season.
In particular, communication problems with director of football Jason Wilcox created a difficult working environment.
When recruitment strategy and tactical planning become misaligned, implementing a new philosophy becomes significantly harder.
For Amorim and his staff, this lack of alignment made their position increasingly fragile as results deteriorated.
Cândido reflects on a valuable learning experience
Since leaving United, Amorim has largely stayed away from the spotlight.Cândido, however, has taken a reflective approach to the experience.
Rather than viewing their time in Manchester purely as a failure, he believes the challenge provided valuable lessons.
An experience is always an experience. Even if people think our work was good or bad, we always learn something in the end.As the Red Devils moves forward under new leadership, the brief Amorim era highlights the immense difficulty of rebuilding one of football's most scrutinised clubs whilst balancing long-term vision with immediate expectations.
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