Christian Eriksen has finally addressed one of the most controversial remarks made by Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim during his turbulent spell at Old Trafford, offering a candid assessment of how the comment was received inside the dressing room.
Amorim, who has never been shy of strong opinions, has generated no shortage of headlines during his roughly 14 months in charge of United.
His tenure has been defined by bold statements in press conferences, post-match interviews, and media appearances, many of which have divided opinion among fans and pundits alike.
While the Portuguese coach has shown flashes of progress, United’s overall journey under his leadership has been anything but smooth.
At the time of Eriksen’s comments, Manchester United sit sixth in the Premier League after 18 matches, boosted by a narrow 1–0 victory over Newcastle on Boxing Day.
Despite that relatively respectable league position, Amorim’s reign has been overshadowed by inconsistency and disappointing results.
Since taking over from Erik ten Hag in November 2024, United have suffered 21 defeats in 61 matches, a statistic that has continued to fuel criticism of the manager.
The previous season was particularly painful. United limped to a 15th-place finish in the league and fell short in the Europa League final, losing to Tottenham Hotspur.
During a bleak run of form in January, Amorim made a remark that would come to define much of the backlash against him.
In a moment of brutal honesty, he stated publicly: “We are the worst team, maybe, in the history of Manchester United.”
The comment caused an immediate uproar. Supporters, former players, and media figures questioned both the accuracy and the wisdom of such a statement, arguing that it disrespected the club’s legacy and needlessly intensified pressure on the squad.
What was less visible at the time, however, was how deeply the remark unsettled the players themselves.
Eriksen, who featured 35 times in what turned out to be his fourth and final season at United, has now shed light on that reaction.
Speaking in an interview with the Sunday Times, later reported by ESPN, the Danish midfielder made it clear that Amorim’s words were far from helpful.
“That didn’t help,” Eriksen admitted bluntly. He explained that while honesty within the dressing room is necessary, taking such criticism public was counterproductive.
According to Eriksen, there are certain things that should remain internal, especially when players are already under immense scrutiny and doing everything they can to turn results around.
He added that the comment only piled extra pressure onto a squad already struggling with confidence. Whether Amorim’s assessment was right or wrong, Eriksen felt the public nature of the statement simply created another damaging headline and reinforced a negative narrative around the team.
For the players, it became yet another moment of frustration — a sense of déjà vu that the focus had shifted once again from recovery and improvement to damage control.
Eriksen’s time at United came to an end at the conclusion of the 2024/25 season, with the club confirming in May that his contract would not be renewed. He signed off in memorable fashion, scoring a penalty in a 2–0 victory over Aston Villa in his final appearance.
Following his departure from Old Trafford, Eriksen joined Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg on a free transfer, agreeing to a two-year contract with the option of an additional season.
His reflections now offer a rare insight into how Amorim’s blunt honesty, while intended to spark change, may have instead added to the strain during one of Manchester United’s most difficult modern periods.
