The 1–1 stalemate at Elland Road proved to be the final trigger for tensions that had been quietly building ever since Ruben Amorim walked through the doors at Old Trafford.
Although Manchester United’s official announcement this morning carefully referenced “results” and a lack of “progress,” Roy Keane has cut straight through that carefully worded explanation.
Speaking live on Sky Sports News, the former United captain laid bare what he believes was the real reason Amorim’s reign collapsed: a combustible clash of egos at the highest level of the club.
“An Unacceptable Level of Arrogance”
Keane was characteristically blunt as he addressed reports that Amorim confronted the club’s hierarchy following the draw with Leeds, allegedly telling them to “do their job” in relation to January transfer activity.
For Keane, this crossed a line that could not be ignored.
He argued that a manager in Amorim’s position had no right to speak in such a manner after failing to secure consistent results.
In Keane’s view, spending close to £250 million over 14 months and still sitting sixth in the table stripped Amorim of any leverage.
The Irishman suggested that Amorim began to believe he was untouchable, behaving as though he were bigger than the institution itself—an attitude Keane described as the ultimate act of arrogance at a club like Manchester United.
A Squad That Never Bought In
Keane did not limit his criticism to Amorim’s dealings with the board.
He also addressed the growing disconnect inside the dressing room, including reports of players rebelling against the manager’s highly structured tactical methods—described by some as overly automated and rigid.
While Keane admitted that the current squad lacks the toughness and resilience that once defined United teams of the past, he was equally scathing of Amorim’s approach.
He questioned the wisdom of treating players like programmable units rather than individuals, arguing that footballers respond to man-management, not laboratory-style precision.
In Keane’s assessment, trying to force players into robotic patterns was not progressive thinking but a complete misunderstanding of elite football culture.
A Battle for Control at the Top
According to Keane, the true breaking point was a power struggle behind the scenes.
Amorim reportedly demanded full control, insisting on being a “manager” rather than a head coach, with authority over recruitment, tactics, and long-term strategy.
This stance brought him into direct conflict with sporting director Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada.
Keane explained that the board resisted Amorim’s push for immediate January signings tailored specifically to his 3-4-3 system, preferring instead to protect the club’s long-term vision. They were unwilling to commit to players who might only suit one coach’s philosophy.
Similarly, Amorim’s demand for zero interference clashed with the board’s desire to build a broader “United identity” that would outlast any single manager. His public criticism of the club’s internal handling of pressure was reportedly seen as unprofessional and confrontational.
“He Wrote His Own Ending”
For Keane, the moment Amorim publicly challenged the club’s leadership, his dismissal became inevitable.
Losing matches, Keane argued, is part of football—but openly antagonizing the people who employ you is a guaranteed route to the exit door.
Keane concluded with a bleak assessment of the wider picture: a club lacking direction, players unwilling to take responsibility, and a manager whose ego ultimately overshadowed his duty to the fans. In his eyes, Amorim’s departure was not just justified—it was unavoidable.
