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Ruben Amorim is not holding back with his comments to the media.
The Manchester United manager has courted controversy with his public utterances of late, especially his quote claiming the current crop of players were "maybe the worst team in United's history".
The club's form – they have lost seven of the 15 games since Amorim was appointed – would suggest he may have a point. United are currently mired in 13th position in the Premier League table, some seven points off the top half and only 10 above the relegation zone.
But Amorim has still been criticised heavily, with many believing he has been too harsh publicly on his players.
At the press conference before United's Europa League clash with Rangers, Amorim was asked to clarify his recent comments while defender Harry Maguire also spoke to the press about the club's recent form and his manager's strong words. The Sporting News details what they both said below.
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Amorim and Maguire on 'worst United team' comments
Amorim admitted at the time, speaking following United's damaging 3-1 home loss to Brighton, that he would make headlines with his comments.
And so it proved, with criticism raining down on the Portuguese coach from several different angles since. However, Amorim used the pre-Rangers conference as an opportunity to explain what he really meant, as he seeks a response on the pitch from his side.
"First of all, I want to talk about [those comments]," he began. "I was talking more about myself than for my players. It's more for me. I also said in the same response that I was not helping my players.
"If you look around every time I speak – and I speak a lot – every time you [the media] push about the players not being good enough, I never put the spotlight on my players. I understand I gave you that headline but I am frustrated sometimes.
"Sometimes it's really hard to hide the frustration, but the good thing is that I said the same things, in a different way, in the dressing room five minutes before. And the response was normal because I'm quite blunt with my players."
🗣️ "It is the same players doing worse, with the new coach"
Ruben Amorim reflects on his comments following Man Utd's loss to Brighton and says his side are more nervous playing at Old Trafford than away from home 🔴 pic.twitter.com/3D3Zec2yaW
Amorim was also asked about United's poor run of results and how his team can rectify their concerning form. There's already been a few whispers that his position as manager could come under threat with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said to be unhappy with recent events.
He added: "I'm not taking responsibility away from the players, what I'm saying is the message you guys show is I'm putting it on the players. In this moment, we are performing really bad and our results are really bad. It's everything together, the players, the staff, and I'm the biggest responsible for the results."
Maguire preferred not to talk about the criticism from his manager but instead insisted that it's on United's players to turn around their current malaise.
The in-form centre-back said: "We've got a look at ourselves, take responsibility and as an individual that's what I do, go home and think about how I can help this team. It's about us players taking it on ourselves and improving."
Man United vs Rangers Europa League preview
The Europa League could provide some welcome respite for United amid their spiralling league form.
Amorim's side are actually in a strong position in Europe and could take a giant leap towards reaching the Europa League knockout phase with a win over Rangers at Old Trafford.
The concern on Thursday night for Amorim could be United's home form, with the manager believing his players are feeling anxious at their home ground. United have lost four of their past five at the 'Theatre of Dreams'.
"We are more nervous playing at home than away," he said. "We lost four games in five, so it's getting harder, but we can improve. We need the first thing in my mind, they cannot score. We need to score the first goal."
Rangers are in eighth spot in the Europa League group phase, just a place and a point behind United, so could also stake a major claim for the last-16 if they secure a win at Old Trafford.
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