Report: Amorim Could Have Exit From Manchester United Nightmare

After another woeful showing in Sunday's derby, most fans are wondering when rather than if Manchester United will pull the plug on their Ruben Amorim project.

Erling Haaland and co. ripped United open as Manchester City ran riot at the Etihad, continuing Amorim's barren run since taking over last November.

The Portuguese head coach has taken just eight wins from 31 Premier League games in charge, and they are back in the bottom half position where they were rooted for all of last season.

The noise from inside Manchester United this week suggests that Amorim retains the full backing of the board for now (the question of why is beyond most reasonable football fans).

Should United fail to pick up major points from their three games before the international break - no given against Chelsea, in-form Sunderland, and Brentford - then Amorim will be in big trouble.

Reports from Portugal, however, suggest he could land on his feet if the end is nigh at Old Trafford.

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Ruben Amorim linked with Benfica job amid Manchester United turmoil

The Times report this week that Ruben Amorim is being lined up as the next head coach at Portuguese giants Benfica.

Benfica are, of course, one of the biggest rivals of Amorim's previous club Sporting, and so this would be a bombshell move.

However, with his position at Manchester United under significant pressure, it could be welcome news for Ruben Amorim.

João Noronha Lopes is the favourite to be elected Benfica's new president in the election on October 25, and he was at Sunday's Manchester derby alongside general director Pedro Ferreira and club legend Nuno Gomes, a close friend of Ruben Amorim's.

Lopes did not want to encroach on Amorim's current position, but his language was firm - he wants the United head coach back in Lisbon.

"Ruben Amorim is the coach of Manchester United, I can’t answer that question," Lopes said to the Portuguese media upon returning.

One thing I know, Ruben Amorim will be the coach of Benfica one day.

We went to Manchester to watch the derby. I went with Nuno Gomes and Pedro Ferreira, the general director, who was announced yesterday. And when we are together, we take the opportunity to have meetings and prepare the future of Benfica. We take the opportunity to watch games together, it certainly won’t be the last one we go to.

We take the opportunity to prepare for the future. I wasn’t with Bernardo Silva or Ruben Amorim after the game.

The Times' report states that Lopes will aim to tempt Amorim back to Portugal should he win next month's presidential election at Benfica.

Bruno Lage is the current Benfica head coach, with the club five points adrift in the Primeira Liga.

It's make-or-break time for Ruben Amorim at Manchester United and, should their abysmal form continue, perhaps a return to Portugal may begin to sound more and more appealing.

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