Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has insisted the club are on the pathway back to success amidst mass redundancies under Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
When Ratcliffe became a co-owner of the Red Devils, there was hope that the billionaire would help steer the club back towards the summit of the Premier League after the criticised stewardship of the Glazer family.
However, United are currently 14th in the table with just 33 points after 27 matchweeks, and are on track to tally 46 points which would represent their lowest total since 1978–79.
It was also revealed earlier this week that between 150 and 200 people at the club will be made redundant this year, adding to the 250 employees who were let go last summer as part of Ratcliffe and the INEOS group's plan to improve the Red Devils' financial health.
Despite the unpopular cost-cutting measures and poor situation on the pitch, Amorim expressed confidence in the club's hierarchy, saying: "I see a clear path, I see that from the board also. They are doing difficult changes, they are not popular, but they are doing them because they have a vision. That is clear.
"But in the future we need to show some results - because you can make a lot of changes and if we don't have results, people won't feel confidence and happy. The good thing is we have a clear path, now it's hard but we are doing things to achieve success in the future."
United displayed their togetherness last Wednesday to beat Ipswich Town 3-2 in the Premier League despite playing with 10 men for the majority of the game after Patrick Dorgu was sent off in the 43rd minute.
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Is there a clear pathway for United under Ratcliffe?
United are set to take on Fulham in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Sunday, and given the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea have already been eliminated from the competition, Amorim's side should be seen as one of the competition's favourites.
Winning the tournament would provide the Red Devils with a pathway back into Europa League, and given their position in the league, it may represent their best chance of securing a return to Europe in 2025-26.
However, FA Cup success would do little for the club in terms of competing for the biggest of trophies, as demonstrated by previous boss Erik ten Hag, who was sacked in October 2024 despite having won the FA Cup in May that year.
Amorim only arrived in England in November but has himself come under significant pressure for his team's performances, with the club having lost eight, drawn three and won just five of their 16 games under his management.
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Amorim deserves time
Amorim has primarily utilised a 3-4-3 formation during his time as a manager, but he has so far struggled using the same system at United.
The club will reportedly have to operate a sell-to-buy policy in order to make significant transfers in the summer window, but without fresh arrivals, it is difficult to see how the Red Devils boss can improve his side's performances.
Pundits such as Jamie Carragher have argued that Amorim may need to adapt his formation in order to improve the team's form, but it would arguably be unfair to ask the head coach to adapt his playstyle to accommodate the players at his disposal.
The Portuguese boss will likely be under immense scrutiny in 2025-26 if he is unable to immediately implement his philosophy in his first full season in charge, but he at least deserves the chance to prove he can improve the club's fortunes.
Lewis Nolan
