'Ruben Amorim's sending secret messages to Man Utd supporters – he'll never say it'

Alan Shearer has claimed Ruben Amorim is sending secretive messages to Manchester United fans that his newly inherited squad simply isn’t up to par. Having taken over from the ousted Erik ten Hag, Amorim put a debut 1-1 draw away at Ipswich Town behind him to secure back-to-back wins against Bodo/Glimt and Everton before a treacherous trip to the Emirates on Wednesday.

However, a 2-0 loss gave the boss his first English top-flight defeat, and a toughly fought, goalless first half was played out to no avail after a pair of set-piece strikes sealed the Red Devils’ fate.

Yet, as Amorim’s unbeaten run ends, Shearer feels the writing has been on the wall, and the manager has been letting fans know the turnaround at Old Trafford will not be swift.

“I think in his press conferences Ruben Amorim is actually sending subliminal messages to United fans to tell them that this is not a very good team and it’s going to take time,” BBC pundit Shearer admitted to Betfair.

“He said before the game against Arsenal that they’re going to have to suffer and there will be times where things aren’t good. I admire his honesty and openness.

“But, I also do think that he’s probably got into the football club and onto the training ground and thought, ‘Is this what I’ve got with all the money you’ve spent?’ – although he’ll never say that, I’m sure there’ll be a part of him that thinks that.”

Over £600million was spent by United during Ten Hag’s reign at the club, with roughly £175m shelled out this summer alone prior to Amorim’s arrival.

“The Arsenal game was his first big test in terms of proper opposition,” Shearer continued. “I mean, you’d expect them to compete with Ipswich, and they were fortunate to get the draw. You’d expect them to win at home in Europe, and you’d expect them to beat Everton at home.

“They did alright in those three games, but their big test was against Arsenal, and Amorim set up really defensively, and they frustrated Arsenal in the first half, but as soon as Arsenal scored one goal, there was only one team that was going to win the game.”

Goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba – both by way of a corner – meant that all three points stayed in north London. Amorim’s side now face Nottingham Forest at home on Saturday and a European venture the following Thursday before a monumental clash against rivals Manchester City at the Etihad.