Former Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen has strongly criticised current manager Ruben Amorim for his public declaration that last season's squad was the "worst in history" of the prestigious club. Eriksen, who now plays for VfL Wolfsburg, believes such comments from the boss only piled on more pressure during an already dismal campaign.
Eriksen's Blunt Assessment of Amorim's Outburst
In a recent interview with The Times, Christian Eriksen did not hold back when asked about Amorim's stinging public critique. The Portuguese manager, who replaced Erik ten Hag, made the remarks after a horrendous run of just two wins in 10 Premier League games, culminating in a mid-January defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford.
"That didn't help. Yeah, that didn't help at all," Eriksen stated emphatically. "I mean, that was not... I don't think that helped the players at all." The Danish playmaker argued that there is a clear line between what is said in the dressing room and what is shared with the media.
Inside vs. Outside: Adding Pressure on Struggling Players
Eriksen elaborated that Amorim's choice to voice his frustrations publicly was counter-productive. He stressed that the players were already giving their best under trying circumstances, and the manager's words only served to create negative headlines and extra pressure.
"Some stuff you can say inside and it's not too clever to say outside, to put extra pressure and put an extra label on the players who were already trying to do their best," Eriksen explained. "I don't think that helped at all, no. Then if he's right or wrong, whatever, but I think for us it was a bit of like, 'Oh, here we go again. Another headline.'"
Amorim's Controversial 'Headline' Comments
The incident that sparked this row occurred after the Brighton loss in January. In a frustrated post-match address, Amorim had told the media, "We are the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United." He acknowledged the club's 147-year legacy while highlighting the dismal form of two wins in ten league matches.
"Imagine what this is for a fan of Manchester United. Imagine what this is for me," Amorim had said. "We are getting a new coach who is losing more than the last coach. I have full knowledge of that... I know you [media] want headlines but I am saying that because we have to acknowledge that and to change that. Here you go: your headlines."
Eriksen, who made 22 of his 107 United appearances under Amorim before his free transfer to Wolfsburg, clearly feels the manager's strategy of public acknowledgement did more harm than good to the squad's morale during a tough period.
