‘Because we are the engine…’ – Ruben Amorim sensationally blames TEAM for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s brutal Man Utd cuts

RUBEN Amorim has warned his stumbling stars: You’re the engine of this club – so start driving us forward. Amorim’s under-performers have picked up just 15 points from 15 games since he arrived in November, and Manchester United are heading for their worst since relegation in 1974.

Their Old Trafford clash with Ipswich tomorrow is a repeat of the Portuguese gaffer’s first game in charge, in November, with United far closer to the drop zone than European one. Morale was already plummeting as quickly as the team’s league position even before Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s initial round of 250 job cuts over the last 12 months.

And Monday’s news that minority investor Ratcliffe plans to axe another 200 at the end of the season has sent it sliding to rock bottom. Amorim has already admitted the ultimate blame for any cost-cutting stems from a lack of success on the field. Now he has hammered home the message to his red-faced Reds, as they go into a game they’d have once been expected to stroll, yet now cannot be tipped to win with any belief.

Amorim insisted: “It is that we have to address all the problems in the club but one important piece at this moment is to understand how we got to this situation. “It’s a lot to do with the lack of success of the football team because we are the engine of the club… and I want to improve the players, the results and the team.

“It’s always hard for everybody, when they see their friend and team mates losing jobs, but we have to focus on what we can do in this moment. SIR JIM RATCLIFFE'S minority takeover at Manchester United was announced on Christmas Eve in 2023 - and a lot has happened at Old Trafford since...

December 2023 - Man Utd confirm Ratcliffe's takeover on Christmas Eve, vowing to invest £245m into Old Trafford. January 2024 - Ratcliffe and right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford photographed meeting Erik ten Hag during tour of Carrington. January 2024 - Omar Berrada poached from Man City as new CEO.

February 2024 - Ratcliffe's £1billion, 27.7 per cent takeover officially completed. February 2024 - Former CEO Richard Arnold quits board as Ineos pair John Rees and Rob Nevin added. March 2024 - Ratcliffe bans words "awesome" and "lukewarm cappuccino" in bizarre move.

March 2024 - Matt Johnson appointed head of women's football. March 2024 - Ratcliffe announces plans to build "Wembley of the North" to replace Old Trafford. March 2024 - Man Utd NYSE share price drops to $13.73 on March 21 - down from $20.52 immediately after Ratcliffe takeover in December.

April 2024 - Senior staff club credit cards and private cars cancelled. April 2024 - John Murtough quits as football director. April 2024 - Jason Wilcox appointed technical director after compensation package agreed with Southampton. May 2024 - Ratcliffe turns Carrington "toxic" after sending email to employees slamming "disgraceful" lack of cleanliness.

May 2024 - Work finally starts on leaking Old Trafford roof. May 2024 - Man Utd finish eighth in Premier League, worst-ever finish. May 2024 - Ratcliffe gives employees just one week to decide if they want to accept redundancy. May 2024 - Staff forced to pay for own transport to FA Cup final and only given one ticket.

May 2024 - Pre-match party and hotel for senior staff before FA Cup final axed. May 2024 - Man Utd shock rivals Man City to win FA Cup despite suggestions Erik ten Hag will be sacked regardless of result. June 2024 - Man Utd announce £50m plans to upgrade Carrington training ground.

June 2024 - Ratcliffe introduces strict "back to work" policy forcing staff to come into office. June 2024 - Ratcliffe scores own goal with comments about women's team. July 2024 - Man Utd finally agree deal to bring in Dan Ashworth as sporting director after four months of gardening leave at Newcastle, who received £3m in compensation.

July 2024 - Erik ten Hag signs shock new contract extension until 2026. July 2024 - Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake appointed assistant managers, Andreas Georgson first-team coach and Jelle ten Rouwelaar goalkeeper coach. Darren Fletcher's role changes from technical director to first-team coach. Steve McClaren, Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy depart.

July 2024 - Ex-Chelsea technical director Christopher Vivell joins on short-term basis as interim director of recruitment. July 2024 - Jean-Claude Blanc added to Man Utd board. July 2024 - Man Utd cut down number of staff on US pre-season tour to 125. July 2024 - Ratcliffe makes 250 redundancies including popular media man John Allen, historian Cliff Butler and kitman Alex Wylie.

August 2024 - Man Utd splash out £199m in the summer transfer window. August 2024 - Matchday staff lunchboxes scrapped and some forced to eat beside toilet. October 2024 - Man Utd stop paying £2m-a-year ambassador salary to Sir Alex Ferguson. October 2024 - Staff Christmas party cancelled.