Sporting Club manager Ruben Amorim has dropped a potential hint about his future amid links to the Manchester United job. Erik ten Hag is under mounting pressure at Old Trafford as the bad results keep coming, reportedly forcing United to consider alternative options as unrest grows within his dressing room.
The Red Devils have lost eight of their opening 15 games in a disastrous start to the season, including five defeats in 10 home outings.
Ten Hag’s side are eighth in the Premier League, 11 points off leaders Tottenham Hotspur, out of the Carabao Cup and at risk of a Champions League group-stage exit.
According to The Times, United have looked at potential candidates to replace Ten Hag if he fails to oversee an upturn of results.
Amorim and former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane are said to be two candidates under consideration. United have denied claims that they are looking for possible successors.
And while Amorim has confirmed the club haven’t approached him, he has left the door wide open for a new challenge at the end of the season.
Click here to join our Man Utd WhatsApp community to be the first to receive breaking and exclusive Red Devils news.
“This year, I’m not going to go back to the same conversation as last year. I’m not going to make any kind of comment on these situations,” Amorim explained after Sporting’s 4-2 win against Farense on Thursday.
“We don’t know the future. It depends on the results. It has more to do with the general idea of what we need as a team: extra pressure so we don’t hide.
“Regarding the future, I have an idea for the end of the season, but I won’t say it now. But the results and the context take us to something different.
“I don’t want to be commenting on these things. I have not been contacted by Manchester United.”
Amorim reportedly has an £8.7million release clause in his Sporting contract, which would make him an expensive replacement, given it would already cost United around £15m to sack Ten Hag were they to do so soon.
But the 38-year-old’s full focus remains on Sporting as he pursues a second Portuguese title.
He added: “I’m not going to be commenting on that. I will respect the contract. Everything that is there will be fulfilled.”
Sporting are enjoying an unbeaten start to the league season, leading Benfica by three points at the summit.
