(BBC) – The image that best describes Ruben Amorini's 14-month spell at Manchester United may be him on the Grimsby bench.
It happened during a trip to the coast for Manchester United last August for a Carabao Cup match. The match went terribly wrong for United. The big team lost 12-11 on penalties. It was the first time Manchester United had been beaten by a fourth-tier team.
Amorimi's comments after the match sounded like someone who was ready to admit that the job was too hard for him. But he backed down a few days later, when he said that emotions often got the better of him and had led him to say reckless things in public.
However, he didn't stop. At least not for a while.
Amorimi's final game in charge of United was a 1-1 draw with Leeds. The result left the team in sixth place in the Premier League. But the match was accompanied by comments made to journalists.
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On Friday he hinted at a rift at the club. After the match he made another attack in his latest response, which included the statement that he "wouldn't leave".
This effectively meant that United would either support the Portuguese or sack him.
With his tactics a constant concern and with the club's board already concerned by Amorimi's brutal approach to academy players, the chances of him opting for dismissal were growing. This was aided by Amorimi's criticism of experienced members of the squad.
And he was fired on Monday.
The Pope, the Formation and the Beginning of the End
The signing of Amorimi was seen as a progressive move. The club brought in someone who would work within a modern structure and develop over time. But with the 40-year-old came a specific style of play. And the 3-4-3 formation he had used at Sporting.
The more he was asked about this, the more Amorim became convinced that the change would make him lose respect from the players. He felt that the players would think that by changing the formation he would not be committed to his ideas.
While confident in his methods – even at one point stating that not even the Pope could convince him to change – Amorim admitted in October that he had to tell his players to ignore outside voices that constantly said his system needed to change.
"Will the media dictate what I will do?" Amorim asked reporters.
"It can't happen. It's not possible for this to happen. But my players, I guarantee you this, are listening to what's being said and they're taking it in, because we're not winning games. They have to believe in me, because I watch more games than all of you put together."
All of this came to light on December 30. Four days earlier he had switched to a four-man defence in a 1-0 win over Newcastle United. But he immediately switched to a three-man defence against Wolves.
This meant moving Patrick Dorgus from the attacking role to the right wing, where he was very effective on December 26. And he moved to the left wing-back.
Fans were surprised, but also very disappointed at the same time.
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It was no surprise that the lineup against Wolves and the 1-1 draw against a team that had collected only two points all season brought boos for the team. And it was viewed very negatively within the club.
Technical director Jason Wilcox spoke privately to Amorini afterwards, encouraging him to be more tactically flexible. But the team continued with three defenders against Leeds.
It was another big step backwards in Amorim's relationship with his bosses. And his constant criticism only made the situation worse.
Amorim wanted to be left alone to do his work, free from Wilcox's unwanted influence.
But what Amorimi saw as interference, United considered as a normal reaction, which had been constantly resisted.
The situation has become unbearable. United are sixth, in line with expectations that were in place before the start of the season. But there is a team that many experts believe that with a few simple tactical changes could have significantly better results.
On Monday morning at Carrington, Wilcox and the executive director, Omar Berrada, told Amorim that he had been fired.
Player movements
With Amorini, United have been plunged into a situation that seems unlikely given the way football finances are structured these days. The world's fourth-richest club has been competing with significantly smaller but well-run rivals such as Brentford, Bournemouth and Brighton.
The summer transfer window promised that this season would be better. It was to a certain extent, but fans are wondering whether a United manager can compare to 15th place.
United knew that the team they had was not suited to Amorimi's tactical ideas. And the club backed him with more than £200m in the summer to buy the players he needed. And also approved the departures of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho.
The board also respected Amorimi's desire to replace his main striker. Rasmus Hejlund moved to Napoli, while Benjamin Sheshko scored just two goals in 17 appearances following his £74m move from RB Leipzig.
Overall, recruitment was a failure at United. A collective failure, even. And the club is no longer as attractive as it once was.
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Amorim is now part of history, just like David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag before him.
The search for a new manager has begun. But it may take more than just a new man at the helm to solve United's problems.
