Manchester United’s turbulent season has taken another dramatic turn following their chaotic 4–4 draw with Bournemouth, a result that has intensified scrutiny on head coach Ruben Amorim.
In the wake of that frustrating performance, fresh reports suggest that club CEO Omar Berrada has already begun considering contingency plans should Amorim fail to meet expectations before the season concludes.
According to emerging speculation, Berrada has identified a preferred successor if the club decides a managerial change is necessary.
The development comes at a time when United’s form has once again slipped into inconsistency, raising concerns despite their relatively respectable league position.
United briefly appeared to be turning a corner earlier in the campaign. In October, the Red Devils secured three consecutive Premier League victories a feat they had not achieved since Amorim’s appointment at Old Trafford in November of the previous year. That run offered hope that stability was finally taking hold.
However, that optimism has since faded. United have managed just two wins from their last seven league outings, with Monday night’s breathless draw against Bournemouth epitomising both their attacking promise and defensive fragility.
While the performance entertained, it also exposed ongoing issues that have yet to be resolved.
Despite these struggles, the league table paints a complex picture. United currently sit sixth, only two points adrift of the top four.
At the same time, the margin for error is razor-thin, with just six points separating them from 15th-placed Brentford.
In such a congested table, one defeat can spark a crisis, while a short winning run can rapidly transform a club’s outlook.
Against that backdrop, pressure is mounting on Amorim to secure European qualification. A well-followed account on X has claimed that Berrada is already preparing for the possibility of change should results fail to improve.
According to that report, former Barcelona coach Xavi has emerged as the CEO’s leading candidate to take over at Old Trafford.
The same source suggests that Xavi is cautiously assessing United’s current structure and long-term vision. If he ultimately decides the project does not align with his expectations, United are reportedly prepared to switch their focus to Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, who is believed to be available at the end of the season.
However, this speculation contrasts sharply with more established reporting. Respected journalist David Ornstein has stated that United’s board remains firmly behind Amorim, insisting they still see him as the right figure to lead the club’s revival.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Ornstein explained that while United continue to fall short of the standards demanded by supporters and English football at large, the hierarchy recognises that deeper issues have plagued the club since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.
Although Amorim’s tenure has included difficult moments, the board believes he deserves time and continued backing.
Ornstein also noted that United are supporting Amorim in the transfer market and acknowledge that injuries have significantly disrupted his plans. The expectation, internally, is that progress will come gradually rather than instantly.
Amorim himself expressed frustration after the Bournemouth draw, insisting his side deserved more from a match he described as “crazy.”
Speaking to reporters, the Portuguese coach felt United squandered the opportunity in the first half rather than the second.
“We’re extremely disappointed,” Amorim said. “It was a wild game. People may think we lost the points later on, but for me, the damage was done before halftime.
We dominated, created plenty of chances, and should have gone in with a completely different scoreline.”
He added that while the contest may have been entertaining for supporters, the performance left him feeling his team had let a strong opportunity slip away.
Whether patience will prevail or pressure will force a change remains one of the season’s most compelling storylines at Old Trafford.
