By Louis Sealey
Copyright metro
Joe Cole discussing Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim (Picture: TNT Sports)
Joe Cole reluctantly called for Manchester United to sack Ruben Amorim after they were beaten 3-1 by Brentford in the Premier League.
United’s misery continued on Saturday as Keith Andrews’ Brentford sealed a huge victory at the GTech Community Stadium.
Igor Thiago scored a first-half brace as Brentford tormented Manchester United’s defence before Benjamin Sesko gave the visitors hope with his first Premier League goal.
United captain Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty to draw level in the second half before Mathias Jensen sealed Brentford’s win deep into injury-time.
Yet another defeat means Amorim has amassed just 34 points from his 33 league games in charge of Manchester United and is still yet to win two successive league games.
Cole doubts Amorim is capable of turning things around at Old Trafford and believes a change may be the best outcome for both Manchester United and the current manager.
The ex-England star even named former Three Lions boss Sir Gareth Southgate as a possible candidate to take over from Amorim.
Brentford beat Manchester United 3-1 (Picture: Getty)
Asked whether he believes Amorim will turn things around at Manchester United, Cole told TNT Sports: ‘No, I don’t think so. He’s had a long enough time to implement what he wants.
‘It’s not just a Ruben Amorim problem, there’s huge issues around the club. But he looks anxious on the bench, he looks worried, and I think that will filter through to the players.
‘The fact he hasn’t won back-to-back league games is a huge concern. They need a different direction in my opinion.’
Ruben Amorim following United’s defeat to Brentford (Picture: Getty)
Pressed if he meant a ‘different direction’ in terms of a new manager, Cole added: ‘You know I don’t like saying that but for him [Ruben Amorim] as well, he was the bright spark, people were talking about him like the messiah.
‘I thought Gareth Southgate was the perfect man for the job in terms of building a culture and understanding the players. They went with Amorim and it doesn’t look like it’s working.’
Southgate was heavily linked with the Manchester United job last year towards the end of Erik ten Hag’s reign.
“When we lose, honestly, it’s a horrible feeling”Matheus Cunha says the mood in the Man United dressing room is ‘horrible’ after their loss against Brentford 🗣🎙@julesbreach | 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/nYLerh67Wr— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 27, 2025
During his eight-year spell in charge of England, Southgate led the Three Lions to two major finals but failed to end the nation’s wait for silverware.
The scrutiny over Amorim will only increase after a Brentford defeat which Joe Cole described as ‘abysmal’.
‘Brentford were best in every department,’ he added. ‘As for Manchester United, it is abysmal. The whole culture of the club is insipid.’
Ex-England manager Sir Gareth Southgate (Picture: Getty)
Speaking after his side’s latest setback, Amorim insisted he was not concerned about his job.
‘I am never concerned about my job – I am not that kind of guy,’ he told BBC’s Match of the Day. ‘It is not my decision. I will do the best I can every minute I am here.’
But several pundits are questioning how long Amorim has to save his job, with ex-Wales defender Ashley Williams saying: ‘I don’t want to say they change manager, but how long can this continue?
‘It seems to be every week that we’re talking about it. I’m a fan of managers who have a style and stick to it. That isn’t working. You have to adapt.
‘I don’t see where Manchester united go with this unless they change manager.’
Arsenal legend Martin Keown added: ‘They don’t look good enough. You then look at it and he only has a win percentage 1% more than Graham Potter, who has been sacked. How is he still in the job?
‘If he was 12 months after Ferguson, this would have been done weeks ago.’
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