Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his support for Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim on Friday, asserting that “the storm will pass” following the challenging start his fellow Portuguese coach has had in the Premier League. Ronaldo made these comments after receiving the accolade for the best player in the Middle East at the Globe Soccer Awards held in Dubai.
Amorim, who took over coaching duties after the dismissal of Erik ten Hag, has encountered a rocky start with five losses in his first ten matches with Manchester United across all competitions. As the Premier League approaches its midseason mark, United currently sits in 14th place, just eight points clear of the relegation zone.
Ronaldo, a former star at Manchester United and five-time Ballon d’Or winner who now plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, praised Amorim’s past success, stating, “(Amorim) did a fantastic job in Portugal with my (club) Sporting.” He acknowledged, however, that managing in the Premier League poses a different level of difficulty. “It’s the most competitive league in the world. I knew that it would be challenging and that they would face ongoing struggles. But the storm will eventually pass, and brighter days will come,” he remarked.
The Portuguese star’s return to Manchester United ended in November 2022 amid disputes with Ten Hag. Reflecting on the situation, Ronaldo noted, “I mentioned this a year and a half ago, and I will reiterate that the coaches are not the primary issue.” He metaphored the situation to an aquarium, explaining that merely removing a sick fish and placing it back into the same environment will not rectify the problem.
In addition to supporting Amorim, Ronaldo also addressed the recent Ballon d’Or award ceremony, positioning Vinicius Júnior as a deserving winner over Spain’s Rodri. The Brazilian forward received the distinction in Dubai, having earlier been recognized as FIFA’s men’s player of the year. “Vinicius deserved the Ballon d’Or. It was unjust for him not to win it,” Ronaldo stated firmly, expressing his views publicly without reservation.
