Amorim 'raised awkward question' with Man Utd board, says Shearer

Ruben Amorim may have raised concern with Manchester United's board about the quality of his squad believes Alan Shearer.

The Red Devils suffered another crushing blow at Old Trafford, as Bournemouth claimed their second consecutive 3-0 win at the ground.

This defeat leaves United sitting in 13th place in the Premier League, marking a dismal start under Amorim, who was appointed last month after Erik ten Hag's dismissal.

The loss followed a disappointing 4-3 Carabao Cup quarter-final exit to Tottenham Hotspur just days earlier.

Reflecting on the challenges Amorim faces, Alan Shearer speculated on The Rest is Football podcast about the manager's potential frustrations with the club's hierarchy:

"He must think, 'My goodness, this job is so much harder than I thought it was going to be'. He has to have said to the owners," he said.

"The money you have spent and this is what you’ve given me to try and sort this mess out. He’s got a huge job on his hands."

Meanwhile, Amorim pointed to anxiety as a critical issue affecting his players’ performances.

Speaking after the match, the Portuguese coach emphasized the need for mental composure.

He said: "I think the understanding of our game is a lot about mentality.

"You can feel it in the first goal-kick from [Andre] Onana. He is thinking what to do, trying to push the other guys—and everybody is so anxious.

"At this moment, in our club, everybody is tired of this moment. We know what to do, we have to address a lot of things, but we are ready to do it. We already knew it; we knew the challenge is big.

"But it’s one set-piece, one penalty, and a moment where we have to forget the context and keep the ball for a moment without trying to score two goals right away.

"It’s a really tough moment, and we have to understand what the players are thinking in that moment. We will address that."

United now face a crucial Boxing Day clash against Wolves, who are coming off an impressive 3-0 win over Leicester City.

Amorim will be under immense pressure to inspire a turnaround as the Red Devils aim to salvage their season.