Man United Manager Ruben Amorim Avoids Social Media to Shield Himself From Abuse
Meanwhile, United will continue to be without injured duo Harry Maguire and Benjamin Sesko.
Manchester United's Portuguese head coach Ruben Amorim .Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang,
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has revealed that he deliberately avoids social media to safeguard his mental health, even though the decision has cost him potential earnings from sponsorship deals. Amorim-who is approaching the end of an eventful first year at Old Trafford-said disengagement is necessary for his peace of mind as the wave of online criticism aimed at top-flight managers refuses to let up.
Amorim stepped into the job during one of United’s most unstable periods in recent history, when the club finished 15th in the Premier League last season-its lowest top-flight position since the 1973/74 relegation campaign. The poor run saw the Red Devils miss out on European football entirely, amplifying the scrutiny on the new manager.
Although this season got off to a sluggish start, United have started to recover, reaching seventh place coming into Thursday’s game against West Ham. However, Amorim says that the expectations on the outside and online chatter have no bearing on his own assessment of the job he is doing.
The 40-year-old Portuguese tactician said during a press briefing on Wednesday that shutting out social media abuse helps him in his effort to remain balanced, enabling him to focus on what truly matters.
“I don’t read it. I protect myself,” he said. “I don’t watch television when people are discussing Manchester United-not because I disagree with what they say. In fact, many times they are correct. But staying away from it keeps me healthy.”
Amorim added that his emotional response to a poor performance is already strong enough and he doesn’t need extra negativity from online critics. “When we lose or draw, that alone affects me. My own assessment as a coach is enough. I don’t need additional opinions surrounding the club.”
The United boss said he knows not being on platforms like Instagram will cost him millions in sponsorship money, but no amount of money is worth risking his wellbeing or exposing his family to abusive content.
“I could make a lot of money out of Instagram,” he admitted. “But it’s more important to prioritize my quality of life, and keep my family safe. You can’t replace that with a few more dollars or pounds.
On the pitch, Amorim confirmed that forward Matheus Cunha is in line to make his return from injury, offering a much-needed boost ahead of the congested festive schedule. The Brazilian had begun finding his rhythm following his move from Wolves in June before he was sidelined.
“He still has many levels to reach,” Amorim pointed out. “It’s a different club with higher pressure, but he is adapting. Earlier, he was worried too much about not scoring, but his overall influence on the team is invaluable. He still has room to grow both defensively and offensively.” Meanwhile, United will continue to be without injured duo Harry Maguire and Benjamin Sesko.
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