Jose Mourinho — the club legend turned outspoken critic — has publicly warned Manchester United coach Rúben Amorim about persistently selecting a player the Portuguese manager labels a “ticking time bomb.” In blunt remarks aimed at Amorim’s team selection, Mourinho argued that the same individual was instrumental in the downfall of Erik ten Hag and predicted a similar fate could befall Amorim if he continues to rely on him.
Mourinho framed his message as both a critique and a warning: he claimed the player’s repeated poor performances and damaging decisions on the pitch directly contributed to Ten Hag’s dismissal and now pose a similar existential threat to Amorim’s tenure.
According to Mourinho, insisting on starting a player who repeatedly underperforms in key matches is not merely a tactical error but a managerial liability that risks destabilizing the dressing room and alienating supporters.
The former United manager’s intervention has added fuel to an already combustible debate among fans and pundits. Supporters who watched the recent derby chastened by heavy defeat have seized on Mourinho’s comments as validation of long-held frustrations, arguing that the individual’s limitations are glaring and that drastic action is overdue.
Critics say Mourinho’s language is intentionally provocative — designed to crank up pressure on both the player and the head coach — but they concede the core issue he raises is real: selection decisions in high-profile fixtures carry huge consequences.
For Amorim, Mourinho’s public admonition intensifies scrutiny over tactics, player management, and personnel choices. The coach must now weigh short-term loyalty and perceived potential against immediate performance demands and the escalating calls for accountability.
With club morale, fan patience, and managerial job security all now part of the same volatile mix, the next moves from the United hierarchy and Amorim himself will be watched closely for signs of change.
