Former Manchester United defender Paul Parker has insisted that Ruben Amorim must be given the chance to bring in his own players at Old Trafford before his position at the helm is called into question.
Amorim has won 13, drawn nine and lost 12 of his 34 matches since taking charge of the Red Devils last November, and a disastrous domestic campaign has left the team down in 14th spot in the Premier League table.
Man United have already suffered their worst-ever Premier League season in terms of a points return, but the club are in the semi-finals of the Europa League, with the first leg of their last-four clash taking place against Athletic Bilbao next week.
Parker has said that Amorim must be given time to make his mark at Old Trafford, with this summer's transfer window set to be crucial for the 40-year-old, who is bidding to sign players to fit into his 3-4-3 system.
"Yes. It would be wrong to question him at this moment," Parker told Sports Mole. "He definitely needs to bring in what he wants. We don't know if he's going to be allowed to do it. We don't know if the people who he's got doing the work from at Old Trafford are going to be good enough to do it.
© Imago
Parker: 'Amorim must be given time'
"He doesn't know them. They don't really know him. As much as they mostly say they know his system, do they know the kind of player? Are they allowing him to be able to talk to the player and tell him what he wants from him? Or are they telling him that they think he can fit into it, which for me is the wrong way to go.
"I think at the end of the day, if anything, if you're going to go up in flames, you'd rather light the match yourself than someone else do it. So I'd like to think that he'll be allowed to bring in who he wants. He doesn't need massive names at all to fit any system.
"But if you're looking at a team that have used three at the back and been the best at it this season, you look at Crystal Palace and you look at what that team cost them and how they've gone about it. You look at the football they play as well. But Crystal Palace have got a better midfield than Manchester United.
"And you look at what they've got there. So that difference, those three in that midfield make the difference as well. Maybe one might make a difference, maybe two. But as well, Palace have got maybe in a way a better front three because there's more energy as well. So they lack players up front as well. That's another bit where the club have got to help him.
© IconSport
Parker: 'Man United must be cruel to be kind'
"But more importantly, the club have to be cruel to be kind. They have to get rid of players. They have to tell them they're not wanted. And those players have to accept that and maybe go somewhere where they want it rather than thinking about the money."
Parker knows what a title-winning team looks like, having lifted two Premier League trophies during his time at Man United, while he also won the FA Cup, League Cup and Charity Shield while representing the club between 1991 and 1996.
Man United will continue their Premier League campaign against Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon, but it is once again expected to be a much-changed side, as Amorim keeps his players fresh for the trip to Spain next week.
Winning the Europa League would secure Champions League football for the 2025-26 campaign, placing the Red Devils in a much stronger financial position when it comes to attacking the summer transfer window.
Paul Parker was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of Betano.
Matt Law
