Manchester United legend Denis Irwin insists Ruben Amorim is not responsible for his horrendous form.
Amorim has won just three of his 11 Premier League games in charge of the Red Devils since taking charge in November, taking 11 points.
Erik ten Hag had scored 15 points in 11 games before being fired and after a radical change of system, Amorim's ideas do not seem to hold up.
The Portuguese recently revealed that he had only done six serious training sessions with his stars.
He was so furious with his players after the 3-1 defeat to Brighton that he branded them “perhaps the worst team in the club's history” and reportedly smashed the dressing room television, but Denis Irwin claims this is not your fault.
'I've said it before, it depends on the players. The coach can organize (the players), he likes a 4-3-3 (3-4-3), but it literally depends on the players,” Irwin told the Stick to Football podcast, presented by sky bet.
Ruben Amorim is not to blame for Man United's spiral in form, says club legend Denis Irwin
Irwin, who won seven Premier Leagues and a treble with United, has put the responsibility on the players and the recruitment strategy
Manchester United have spent a lot of money in recent seasons with little reward.
“You also wouldn't say that (Manchester) United's recruiting over the last ten years has been excellent; that is the biggest problem.
'It's been a tough ten years (after Sir Alex Ferguson). Everyone knew it was going to be a difficult period after Sir Alex left.
“They've had a lot of experienced coaches, Ole (Gunnar Solskjaer) too, who looked like they were going to do something, but that light has just closed.
“They have won cups, as Liverpool did in their quiet period, but they have not been anywhere near the league in the last ten years. It's going to take time.'
Irwin won seven Premier League titles at Old Trafford and was part of the team that won the treble in 1998-99 under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Amorim is coming under increasing scrutiny and even admitted last month that he could be sacked by Manchester United.
Sporting director Dan Ashworth learned of the brutality of this regime when he was sacked in December, just 159 days after joining the club in a lucrative move from Newcastle.
On Sunday, Amorim claimed his team could be the worst in United's history, but after a strong backlash he has returned to that assessment.
Amorim branded his Manchester United the “worst team in the club's history” after losing to Brighton.
He has since said he regrets his comments and deflected responsibility onto himself.
Erik ten Hag had a better record this season than Amorim has had since taking over.
“I spoke more for myself than for my players,” he said. “If you look around you, every time I talk, and I talk a lot, you insist that the players are not good enough. I never give points to my players.
“Because they are the same players who are doing worse with a new coach, that is my only concern at the moment. I am not taking anything away from the players, what I am saying is that we have to improve in the details.”
In a stark press conference after the 3-1 defeat at Brighton, which gave them their worst home league start in 131 years, Amorim branded their form “unacceptable”.
“We are perhaps the worst team in Manchester United's history,” the 39-year-old admitted.
'I say this because we have to recognize it and change it. Here you go: your headlines.
“It is unacceptable to lose so many games. For any Premier League club, imagine Manchester United?
'The rivals are better than us in many details. I am only here to help my players, but we must understand that we are breaking all the bad records.
“In 10 Premier League games we won two. I know that. Imagine what this is like for a United fan. Imagine what this is for me. We get a new coach who is losing more than the last coach. I am fully aware of it.'
Denis irwin spoke on the Stick to Football podcast, presented by sky bet.