Man United internal conflict! Amolin challenges the leadership under Sir Jim, insists he will never resign and reveals plans to leave with compensation

Man United managed a 1-1 draw at Leeds United away, with eight players absent and conceding first, yet avoided defeat, gaining a degree of approval. This shows how the current expectations for the Red Devils have dropped significantly, since any other elite club would be criticized for consecutive draws against bottom and relegation zone teams.

At Elland Road, Man United conceded again, marking their 15th consecutive Premier League away game without a clean sheet—a new record. The Red Devils have never before had such a long streak of conceding goals on the road.

After the match, Amolin once again expressed dissatisfaction with the management, even hinting he might leave before his contract ends in 2027. The press conference started off ordinary, like a routine post-match session, with Amolin defending Sheshko and claiming the team improved compared to the Wolves game. But then he dropped a bombshell, and the Manchester Evening News reported that a Man United internal war had begun.

“I came to Man United to be a football manager, not just a coach,” Amolin said. “That’s clear. I know my name isn’t Tuchel, Conte, or Mourinho, but I am the head coach of Man United. This will last 18 months or until the board decides to make a change. That’s my stance, and this is where I stand.”

However, Amolin stated he will not resign voluntarily. “I will not quit; I will work until someone replaces me,” he said. “I want to reiterate, I want to be the manager of this team, not just the coach. I made this clear during negotiations, and that’s the agreement we reached. Every department—the scouting, the sporting director—needs to do their job. This will end in 18 months, and then everyone moves on.”

Fans familiar with the "Football Manager" game know that in English football, the role of "Manager" means controlling not only training, matches, and tactics but also major matters like transfers and player contract renewals.

In December, Amolin expected at least one signing in the January transfer window. Man United tried to sign Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo for £65 million but lost out to Manchester City. Amolin thought the money could be used elsewhere, but Sporting Director Jason Wilcox recently vetoed any winter signings in a meeting.

As a result, Amolin grew pessimistic, saying he had to find common ground with Wilcox and began openly contesting transfer decision authority with the leadership. He challenged Man United’s top brass, demanding freedom to operate without interference and hoping to bring in new players this month to boost the team's chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season.

Amolin said, “Being a manager is my job, not just being a coach. If people can’t accept Gary Neville and others criticizing every little thing, the club needs to change. I just want to say, I’m here to be the manager of Man United, not merely a coach.”

Looking back at Man United’s announcement last November, Amolin’s official title was "head coach," so his demand to be called manager has been seen by British media as a "power play." The Sun even suggested Amolin knows he’s unlikely to win this internal battle and aims to force Sir Jim Ratcliffe to pay him off to sack him.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS management team cannot dismiss Amolin without losing face, as it would admit another mistake in choosing the coach. But the 72-year-old former UK richest man is not indecisive; although he said Amolin would coach for three years, their partnership will almost certainly end sooner.

Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano said, “The relationship between Amolin and the management is really tense behind the scenes. Amolin is unhappy with Man United’s player recruitment process. The club was interested in Semenyo, but he ultimately chose Manchester City. Finding replacements for players like Zirkzee and Kobe Meno is not easy for Man United right now, and the transfer market is at a standstill, which frustrates Amolin greatly.”