Can’t watch! Ruben Amorim’s penalty antics branded ‘really bizarre’ as Man Utd manager showcase ‘unusual’ superstitions

The Portuguese has had every right to look away through the opening weeks of the 2025-26 campaign. He saw fellow countryman Bruno Fernandes sky a spot-kick during a 1-1 Premier League draw at Fulham.

The Red Devils then fluffed their lines in an epic Carabao Cup shootout with Grimsby, which saw Bryan Mbeumo crash the decisive effort against the crossbar as League Two giant-killers prevailed 12-11 at Blundell Park.

Amorim is merely sticking with a process that he has adopted throughout his coaching career, but questions are being asked of why the 40-year-old - who is struggling to generate positive results at Old Trafford - feels the need to hide in high pressure situations.

Former United striker Dwight Yorke has told Jackpot City Casino: “Ruben Amorim staring at the ground? It's really bizarre. He doesn't look when there's a corner kick or a penalty. Managers have got different superstitions in some way and maybe that is his.

“Maybe we are reading too much into it. He has a lot on his plate. He's got to figure things out during the game, what the changes he may have to make. So he might take a moment that he needs to really focus in on and by staring in the way he does, maybe might get him to concentrate.

“There's a lot of things happening on the football pitch. There's so much the crowd obviously playing the part as well, but it's a bit unusual when you see a manager really bow down to the ground and then sort of having to figure things out. But, every manager has got their superstitions, so to speak.”

Amorim has won just 16 of his 45 games in charge of United, giving him a win ratio of only 35.56 per cent. The Red Devils board are keeping faith for now, but a reversal in fortune will be required if mounting sack talk is to be fended off.