Premier League legend Emmanuel Petit has embarked on an astonishing and brutal rant on Ruben Amorim, after the Manchester United boss seemed to attribute the pundit’s comments as a reason for his players’ poor performances.
The Portuguese is no stranger to criticism in the media - his time at Old Trafford has been rife with brutally honest admissions and harsh scrutiny.
The Portuguese has received blunt criticism in the media this season from former players who have slammed his tenure at the club, which will reach its one-year mark next month.
Wayne Rooney went on record on his BBC podcast, admitting he has “no faith” that Amorim will be able to turn his situation around, while Gary Neville criticised the boss’s strict stubbornness over his 3-4-3 formation.
Jamie Carragher has also previously described his tenure as "a disaster”, claiming his departure is “inevitable”.
And prior to his side’s victory against Sunderland, the United boss had criticised those outside the club for creating a hostile environment for the players who, he believes, inevitably read what is said about them.
Ruben Amorim has received huge backlash for blaming criticism in the media for his side's poor form
| SKY SPORTSThat’s not an adequate excuse for World Cup and Premier League winner Petit, who has slammed the 40-year-old’s deflection tactics as “absolute nonsense”.
Speaking to Boyle Sports, who offer the latest football betting odds, Petit demanded Amorim take responsibility for the reality of the situation at Old Trafford.
“That's the first time I've heard a manager use that as an excuse for the failure of his players. Don't be ridiculous. Ruben Amorim is talking absolute nonsense. Your players know what you're saying is absolute nonsense too,” he despaired.
Ruben Amorim was accused of talking 'absolute nonsense' by Arsenal and Chelsea icon Emmanuel Petit
| REUTERS“How can you say that when you manage Manchester United? If you are not able to deal with critics when you manage or play for big clubs and are receiving so much money, then change clubs. Don't work with top clubs.
“I read that and thought, ‘Did he seriously say that?’ I've been a player for top clubs with huge expectations. When I was on the pitch, I never tried to find excuses.
“You just take your own responsibility, be a man. I know I've been very upset with critics; some of what they said was unfair most of the time, but you have to deal with it.
Manchester United have won three of their opening seven Premier League matches this season
| PA“The beauty of football is that you have your own destiny in your hands, which means you can be on the floor after one game and then be the hero of the next. You can change that situation. You have the power to change it, so just do it.
“Stop focusing on what people are saying in videos from players on social media. Every single player and the manager, all together, should try to change the situation, the environment.
“There are so many people at Manchester United who are missing the character and personality to change it. Honestly, guys, if you can't do that, just be honest with yourself in the mirror.
“Say, ‘I'm not able to do that because I'm scared.’ This is it. So be honest and change.”
Neville, who has been a harsh critic of Amorim’s refusal to move away from his trusted style of play, reacted in an equally shocked manner.
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Gary Neville also slammed Ruben Amorim for his response to media criticism
| X“I’ve not got a lot of time for that,” he said on the Gary Neville Podcast. “If pundits are getting in your head, you shouldn't be playing for the club, simple as that.
“Do people not remember Alan Hansen criticising us as young kids, saying ‘you can't win anything with kids?’ That was the greatest centre back in that moment, the most successful centre back of all time at that moment talking of us as if we were inferior and nowhere near good enough. Do they not think we got criticised during our football careers?
“I’m sorry, you're playing for Manchester United, it comes with the territory. You've got to step up.”
While Amorim is not making any friends within the media, United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently revealed he believes the former Sporting Lisbon boss deserves at three years to turn things around. One thing that can help his cause is to keep winning on the pitch.
United have now won three consecutive Premier League games at Old Trafford. However, they face their toughest test of the season so far this weekend, as they travel to face fierce rivals Liverpool at Anfield.