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When Manchester United lost at Brentford under Erik ten Hag in 2022, the manager sent his players on a punishment run at Carrington the next day to make up for the 13.8km they had lagged behind their opponents.
The mood was rather different last Sunday following United’s latest embarrassment at the Gtech Community Stadium, when Ruben Amorim and his staff got together with the players and their families for a planned social at the training ground that the club like to put on a couple of times a year, enjoying food and drinks after the squad had a warm-down session.
United have tried to make it business as usual this week despite the huge pressure building on Amorim and uncertainty over his future.
No one at the club thought they would be in this position by the end of September with their head coach fighting to save his job.
But Sunderland’s visit to Old Trafford on Saturday is a huge game for the embattled United boss ahead of the international break, which would give the club a clear opportunity for change. If Amorim can safely navigate his way through that, Liverpool are waiting at Anfield when the Premier League resumes next month.
The feeling inside Old Trafford is that Amorim can still turn United’s season around after losing half of his opening six league games and crashing out of the Carabao Cup at Grimsby.
Ruben Amorim looks dejected as his Manchester United side slump to yet another defeat, at Brentford on Saturday
Sources are adamant United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is still backing Amorim despite United's struggles under the Portuguese
Sources are adamant Amorim still has Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s backing and the club have not drawn up a shortlist of replacements. They know that doing so would fatally undermine the Portuguese in much the same way Ten Hag never recovered from his employers offering his job to other managers before and after the 2024 FA Cup final.
There is frustration at Old Trafford that many of the same names discussed then are being recycled now, fuelled by what is described by insiders as speculation.
Even so, the United hierarchy wouldn’t be doing their jobs if they didn’t consider that a change might be needed, and at least discuss the potential replacements if they are forced to sack Amorim – a move that would cost the club £12million in compensation if the axe falls before the start of November, as Confidential revealed a fortnight ago.
Gareth Southgate is known to have close ties with Ineos and be admired by Ratcliffe and his director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford.
The former England boss is familiar to a number of United players and available to start work without the need for the club to pay out any compensation.
Whether Southgate would have the same level of support from chief executive Omar Berrada and United’s director of football Jason Wilcox is less clear.
Otherwise, the bookmakers’ favourites are drawn largely from other managers who were in the frame to replace Ten Hag, and those now performing well at smaller Premier League clubs such as Oliver Glasner, Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva. United hope it won’t come to that and Amorim can still prove he is the right man.
Former England manager Gareth Southgate is known to have close ties with Ineos and would be familiar to several United players
Kobbie's Italian Job
It seems no United player would benefit more from a change of manager than Kobbie Mainoo.
The England midfielder’s United career has stalled under Amorim, causing Mainoo to request a loan move before the transfer deadline at the start of this month. The 20-year-old didn’t get his way and has been limited to three substitute appearances since.
His lack of match sharpness was clear at Brentford on Saturday when he lost possession in stoppage-time, allowing United’s opponents to break and kill the game off with a third goal.
If Amorim keeps his job until January, it would be surprising if Mainoo didn’t make another attempt to leave his boyhood club. If so, keep an eye on Napoli and the two Madrid clubs.
Confidential understands Napoli would have been Mainoo’s first choice if United had given him the green light to go. The Italian club wanted to sign him, and he was keen to link up with former United team-mates Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund – as well as Manchester City favourite Kevin De Bruyne – in Naples.
But there will be interest from a number of other top European clubs. Given more time to plan a move, don’t rule out Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid being among them.
Kobbie Mainoo has had few chances to press his claim for a starting spot at Manchester United this season and may well seek a loan move in January
Former United man Scott McTominay has excelled since swapping Manchester for Naples, and Mainoo was tempted to do the same
No stopping Fletch
Darren Fletcher gets plenty of plaudits inside Carrington and it was easy to see why when he returned to work just a day after having knee surgery.
Fletcher sustained cartilage damage in the recent Manchester United Legends match away to Celtic, and needed to go under the knife.
Less than 24 hours after having his knee operation, Under 18s boss Fletcher was back at work to make sure his talented young side didn’t miss a beat.
He appeared at Old Trafford on crutches on Wednesday to watch his son Jack play for the Under 21s against Athletic Bilbao, and was on the touchline for Saturday’s Manchester derby.
Fletcher’s team fell to their first defeat of the U18 Premier League season at the hands of Manchester City, going down 4-2 after having goalkeeper Fred Heath sent off in an end-to-end encounter where JJ Gabriel once again starred (and scored).
Many observers of United’s academy sides have been blown away by Fletcher's work ethic and told Confidential it was simply the latest indication he is destined for the top level of management.
Darren Fletcher's work ethic, not to mention his results with Manchester United Under 18s, is hugely impressive
Fletcher's son Jack is a promising player in United's academy, and featured against Athletic Bilbao last week
Ferro in but where’s Amorim?
It was noticeable who was – and wasn’t – in the posh seats at Old Trafford to watch United’s Under 21s beat Athletic 2-1, thanks to a game-changing impact from substitute Gabriele Biancheri.
Director of football Jason Wilcox sat alongside new head of academy Stephen Torpey with both of their families in tow. Young midfield prospect Sekou Kone sat a few rows in front as he continues to recover from a fractured eye socket, and he shared a brief few words with Wilcox on the night.
Jonny Evans, now in charge of United’s academy loans, watched on in a grey suit. Fletcher hobbled his way into the directors’ box on crutches, while one influential figure decided to sit high up and, he hoped, out of sight.
That man was first-team coach Emmanuel Ferro, one of Amorim’s key aides, who sat four or five rows behind Wilcox and Torpey. There was a warm embrace with Wilcox pre-match, but he continued to sit separately as he watched the Under 21s match unfold.
It raised questions as to Amorim’s no-show, particularly asit was a game at Old Trafford, with the first team having a whole week between matches.
Not unheard of – many first-team managers do not attend academy matches – but this felt like a rare opportunity missed for Amorim.
Louis van Gaal watched United’s Under 18s win an FA Youth Cup match against Hull back in January 2015. Ralf Rangnick went to Old Trafford in February 2022 while interim boss of the first team to see the Under 18s in the FA Youth Cup. Later that year, Erik ten Hag pitched up in Altrincham to see the Under 21s draw against West Ham. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also turned up to watch the academy sides previously.
Amorim has a million plates spinning right now with each of them threatening to come crashing down, but this felt like a no-brainer.
United's director of football Jason Wilcox (left), pictured with CEO Omar Berrada, was at the Under 21s match against Athletic Bilbao but Ruben Amorim was a notable absentee
Deco dishes Rashford detail
There seems to have been some confusion over the terms of Marcus Rashford’s loan move to Barcelona, but Barca sporting director Deco has now cleared things up.
Various figures have been quoted, in addition to speculation that Barca face a financial penalty if they do not sign Rashford at the end of the season, similar to the £5million Chelsea paid United for not making Jadon Sancho’s loan move permanent in the summer.
Confidential understands Barca will have the opportunity to sign Rashford for £26m in July, but because it is an option and not an obligation, there will be no penalty if they send him back at the end of his loan.
‘We signed Marcus on a simple loan with an option to buy. It’s not a high fee,’ Deco confirmed. ‘There are no penalties if we do not sign him permanently. He’s doing great, we are very happy – the final decisions come later.’
Barca’s option is less than the £40m United agreed with Aston Villa when Rashford joined them on loan in January because the Catalan club are paying the entirety of his £300,000-a-week wages and another year of his contract will have elapsed.
Of course, there is nothing to stop Barca trying their luck with a lower offer for Rashford, who returned to the starting line-up against Real Sociedad on Sunday after being dropped to the bench a week earlier for being late to a team meeting.
Marcus Rashford has had a mixed start to the season with Barcelona, who have an option to buy him next summer
Lacey has a mentor in Maguire
While few academy players seem to come close to cracking a matchday squad under Amorim these days, there is a steady flow getting the chance to make an impression in first-team training.
Confidential previously revealed how 18-year-old Shea Lacey had done just that, to the point that he was invited back after a handful of sessions with the seniors.
We have also learned that Harry Maguire has taken it upon himself to help Lacey settle into the senior group and act as a sounding board.
It is understood other first-team stars have been impressed by Lacey’s technical level – which will not come as a surprise to anyone who has watched the youngster run riot against opponents at academy level.
His latest showstopper came at Salford’s Peninsula Stadium while the first team toiled away to Brentford - Lacey coming off the bench to strike a brace for the Under 21s in a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace.
United are eager to take a slow and steady approach when it comes to Lacey, particularly in terms of managing his minutes, after injuries in recent years.
But those close to the winger are finding it hard not to get excited, with his fitness and form coming together at the perfect time.
Winger Shea Lacey, 18, has impressed while training with the first team at United
Harry Maguire has helped Lacey settle into the senior group and acted as a sounding board
Vitek’s a loan star
United fans – and staff, in truth – are desperate to find positives to clutch at in weeks like these and it is those out on loan that are making the right sort of headlines.
Goalkeeper Radek Vitek continues to impress as Bristol City’s new No 1. Vitek is now seven games into his stint at Ashton Gate and has kept three clean sheets, saving 75 per cent of the shots he has faced, without making an error leading to a goal.
Meanwhile, Harry Amass is thriving with crisis club Sheffield Wednesday.
‘Thank you Carrington,’ Wednesday’s Jamal Lewis wrote on Instagram recently, in reference to United loaning out one of their most talented youngsters.
‘I see a young man who is growing a lot right now,’ Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen said of Amass over the weekend. 'I see a young man who, mentally, is going to be stronger and stronger… he is (going) in the right direction.’
And credit to Ethan Ennis, who won a spot in the League Two Team of the Week after scoring his second goal since joining Fleetwood Town on loan.
United goalkeeper Radek Vitek has been in fine form while on loan at Bristol City
And another United academy graduate is making progress away from Old Trafford, following the news that goalkeeper Tom Wooster has signed for West Ham.
Wooster was released in the summer after five years at United, the highlight of which was winning the FA Youth Cup alongside Alejandro Garnacho in 2022.
The 20-year-old, who spent part of last season on loan at Farsley Celtic, joined United from Barnsley in 2020. ‘I had to bide my time, finding the right opportunity for me,’ he said. ‘I think this (West Ham) is the place to come and kick on. It's a big club and I'm so excited to be here.’
Wooster is set to make his third appearance for the Hammers' Under 21s against Reading on Tuesday evening, after playing in a 3-0 win over Birmingham and 3-3 draw with Brighton.
