Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam issues Ruben Amorim warning – and insists the timing of Erik ten Hag’s sacking was ‘STRANGE’

Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam remains skeptical of fortunes at Manchester United changing solely because of a managerial alteration. 

The 52-year-old, whose three seasons at Old Trafford included the historic treble-winning 1998-99 campaign, believes that the quality at his old club needs to improve. 

Whether that be from the existing roster or further additions, above all else, Stam insists that consistency is required to wake the Red Devils from their decade-long hibernation. 

His comments come as United prepare to usher in yet another new era, following the sacking of Erik ten Hag and the imminent arrival of Ruben Amorim.  

‘Everybody knows that when a new manager comes in there’s always a boost for a lot of players because everyone is trying to prove themselves again.’ Stam, who was speaking on behalf of BetMGM told Mail Sport. ‘They all want to start and show the manager what they can bring. 

The Red Devils fell to 14th in the Premier League after suffering defeat at West Ham on Sunday

Erik ten Hag was sacked the following morning, bringing an end to his two-and-a-half years in charge of the club

‘After a couple of weeks of the manager picking his players, you’ll see that some players are not happy anymore so you can get the same circumstances as before. 

‘Is [Amorim] going to bring these players to a level where they can compete for a top-four spot eventually? It’s difficult to say. 

‘We can always look at the manager, we can look at recruitment but we also need to have a look at the players and how they’ve been performing as individuals. 

‘And we can say that these individuals need to step up and show more consistency and quality in games because otherwise we’re going to have the same issues.’

A liberated United were barely recognisable when they put five past Leicester in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night. The side had failed to score five goals in a single game against another Premier League outfit during Ten Hag’s entire tenure but managed the feat in the first match after his sacking. 

The Dutchman was relieved of his duties on Monday following Sunday’s controversial defeat by West Ham, though his position had been in peril for a number of months before co-owners Ineos finally pulled the trigger. 

Regardless, Stam still believes that the former Ajax coach deserved to have been given more time after he had been handed a new contract and spearheaded a summer recruitment drive.

‘On the day after the West Ham defeat, I think it was a strange decision to sack him.’ Stam added.

The Dutchman looked set to depart at the end of last season but won over many critics with tactics that stunned Manchester City in the FA Cup final

Unfortunately, results and performances did not improve, promoting co-owners Ineos to pull the trigger. Pictured: Ineos boss Sir Jim Ratcliffe (centre left)

‘If you talk with your manager in that period of time about the future and going forward, you listen to Ten Hag saying “everyone is on the same page”, then you expect him to be there a bit longer. 

‘You cannot expect United to win every game. We know the team is consistent as well, they need to develop, need to do better, simple as that. So it was a strange decision to sack Ten Hag.

 ‘You give the manager a new contract, you support him by bringing in new players, spending a lot of money. You know as well that the team is not consistent enough to compete for the top-four spots. 

‘I think you need to give him more time to grow into the season, do better and see where he’ll end up with this squad at the end of the season. It’s a bit early after two months saying he needs to go because the results aren’t there.’

Amorim has claimed two league titles and four cups in his four years at Sporting. He will become the second Portuguese coach – after Jose Mourinho – to manage United and the 10th coach, including caretakers, to lead the side since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. 

A renewed United put Leicester to the sword on Wednesday night to progress to the Carabao Cup quarter-final

The club have appointed Sporting boss Ruben Amorim, after his impressive run in Portugal

Understandably, Stam is wary of assuming that Amorim will bring success with him to United. Indeed, as the defender recalls, the mood was also at fever pitch when the Red Devils agreed to bring Ten Hag to the club in 2022, following his exploits with Ajax in the Eredivisie and in Europe. 

‘When Ten Hag signed for United everyone was very positive and excited about him joining because of his style of play. Now there’s a young manager with a little bit of a different philosophy and playing style to Ten Hag. 

‘But I do think he could still use the same players that Ten Hag had. [Amorim] has done well in Portugal, won trophies but that’s not a guarantee to be success at United. 

‘You need to wait and see what’s going to happen. Can he build a team with the style that he wants to be play and then be successful? Every manager wants to bring in their own players and staff so it’s probably going to cost them a lot of money again.’

Jaap Stam was speaking on behalf of BetMGM. Play the new £1million Golden Goals game this season by correctly predicting Premier League scores. BeGambleAware 18+