'There are people who will be fired' - Erik ten Hag's former assistant sends warning to Ruben Amorim after being 'faced with this reality' at Man Utd

Mitchell van der Gaag followed Ten Hag from Ajax to United in 2022. Though Ten Hag stayed on until October 2024, Van der Gaag was dismissed in July amid a backroom staff overhaul. Since then, the club have brought in Amorim from Sporting CP to turn things around at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils' struggles have continued under the Portuguese manager as they sit 16th in the Premier League with two games left to play, though they may still end the campaign with the Europa League title and a place in next season's Champions League. Amorim's rough start comes as no surprise to Van der Gaag, who feels the coach has limited control over the situation while Sir Jim Ratcliffe continues to make significant cuts in the background.

"A coach always needs victories to get his ideas across and for the players to believe in him," he told A Bola. "Coming in mid-season is always difficult, and even more so with the changes that are happening, especially outside the club. In the structure, training centre, stadium, and there are people who can't stay at the club and will be fired. There's a lot going on around the club. Then a top coach arrives here in Portugal, but he's faced with this reality, he has no control over it and he needs to work. It's not easy and I hope he has time to change because it's not easy."

United are winless in their last six league matches heading into Friday evening's game against Chelsea. They will then head to Bilbao to take on Tottenham in the Europa League final on May 21.