Roy Keane has questioned whether Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim will be granted the three years of patience promised by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, warning that results will ultimately decide his fate at Old Trafford.
Ratcliffe, speaking during the international break, gave a public show of faith in the 40-year-old Portuguese coach, insisting that the club's new leadership intends to adopt a long-term approach.
The British billionaire cited Arsenal’s handling of Mikel Arteta as a model of stability, saying Amorim deserves a similar period to impose his philosophy and rebuild the club.
“Ruben needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years,” Ratcliffe told The Business podcast.
“Yes, that is where I would be — three years. Because football is not overnight.
“You look at Arteta at Arsenal; he had a miserable time over those first couple of years.
“We have to be patient. We have a long-term plan. It isn’t a light switch. You can’t run a club like Manchester United on knee-jerk reactions to some journalist who goes off on one every week.”
Roy Keane has questioned whether Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim will be granted the three years of patience promised by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, warning that results will ultimately decide his fate at Old Trafford
|SKYSPORTS
Amorim responded to those remarks ahead of United’s trip to Liverpool, saying he feels fully supported by the club’s hierarchy and is focused on building “something sustainable.”
But while Ratcliffe’s comments offered reassurance, Keane remains unconvinced that the board will stay patient if performances fail to improve.
“I’m not so sure about that,” the former United captain told Sky Sports.
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently backed Ruben Amorim during the international break
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“It’s all well and good getting the backing of the board, but results have to improve.
“You hope any manager is given time, of course, but whether he will get three years depends on how they do over the next few months.
“They have picked up a little bit — with the new attacking players they look more of a goal threat.
“But the big test is games like today. Are they going to show their quality or just grind a result out?
“There are still question marks away from home. They’ve improved, yes, but coming to Liverpool is a huge test, and there are still huge question marks over this group.”
Keane’s comments reflect a wider scepticism about United’s recent managerial record.
Ruben Amorim is currently preparing for Manchester United's showdown with Liverpool on Sunday | REUTERSSince Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, the club has gone through a succession of managers — including David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, José Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, and Erik ten Hag — all of whom began with backing from the board before eventually being dismissed when results faltered.
Amorim, appointed from Sporting Lisbon last November, has endured a tough start in English football.
United’s 2–0 win over Sunderland before the international break provided some relief, but they remain 11th in the Premier League with just 10 points from seven games.
A victory over reigning champions Liverpool at Anfield would lift them into the top half and offer a timely boost to both confidence and credibility.
For Ratcliffe and his Ineos group, who took control of football operations earlier this year, Amorim represents a long-term project.
His arrival was seen as a commitment to building a coherent identity and restoring discipline to a squad that has struggled for consistency. But as Keane cautioned, even the most well-intentioned plans in football depend on results.