​Parker: "If Even Crystal Palace and Sunderland Are Competing for Top Four, There's No Reason United Shouldn't Be"

 
December 16 – Former Manchester United defender Paul Parker, in an interview with Football365, warned current United manager Rúben Amorim that his position remains precarious after a challenging first season in charge, and any string of defeats could lead to his dismissal.

Paul Parker stated: "Looking at the competitive landscape of the Premier League this season, where every team keeps dropping points, United must aim for a top-four finish. At the start of the season, I thought United's target should be to break into the top eight and return to European competition. But based on how this season has unfolded, that target has changed."

"Liverpool are struggling, Tottenham are underperforming, Chelsea are inconsistent, and even clubs like Crystal Palace and Sunderland are in the top-four conversation. Given that, there's no reason United shouldn't be in that position."

"Many teams have been underwhelming this season. The current league situation reminds me of Leicester City's miracle title win in 2016, which also puts more pressure on United. Every United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure in 2013 has faced the same pressure, and it never goes away."

"Sir Alex always said that once you lose more than five league games in a season, you're out of the title race, and that season is considered a failure. Now look at United – they can lose four or five games in a short span, and last season they lost 18 league games – an unbelievable number for a club of this stature. A large part of that responsibility falls on Amorim."

"Amorim is willing to shoulder this responsibility and expectation. When he took the job, he surely knew his life would be consumed by 90-minute matches and endless interviews. As United manager, he should know the storm he'll face when the team loses."

"Amorim needs to explain why Kobbie Mainoo isn't in his plans. Mainoo deserves to play – he should get consecutive starts to prove himself. I'm not telling Amorim how to pick his team, but when Mainoo has been involved, he has shown real talent without getting the chance to develop further."

"Now, every time he comes off the bench, he's a peripheral figure, sometimes even playing it safe for fear of making mistakes. So Amorim needs to make him feel like part of the team. He should tell Mainoo clearly, 'You're starting next game,' and give him a sense of belonging."

"If things don’t change, Mainoo might be better off going out on loan to prove himself elsewhere before returning to United. Then, the manager could acknowledge his earlier mistake and reintegrate him."

"At the moment, most fans still support Amorim because they know constant managerial changes would plunge the club back into chaos – something no one wants. Everyone longs for a long-term manager to restore United's glory, but whether Amorim is the right person remains in doubt. And fans are eager to see Mainoo feature in the team."

Source: football365