For a man whose first language is not English, Rubén Amorim has certainly mastered the art of speaking frankly since landing at Manchester United.
Amorim has earned a reputation at Old Trafford for telling the story during his brief but eventful 70-day tenure as the club's new head coach.
His early warning that “the storm is coming” proved prophetic and popular with headline writers.
Since then, he has made no secret of the fact that the mighty Manchester United are facing an embarrassing relegation battle and that his own job could be in jeopardy if results do not improve, even though he has just moved from the Lowry Hotel to a temporary accommodation with his family.
Earlier this month, he admitted that his players are sometimes “scared” on the field. Even by his standards, however, Amorim's tone after Sunday's 3-1 home defeat to Brighton was extremely strong.
“We are perhaps the worst team in Manchester United's history,” the 39-year-old said before telling reporters searching for a starter that they had gotten their wish.
Rubén Amorim described his Manchester United as the “worst team in the club's history”
The Portuguese coach has not hidden his team's problems since taking office
In terms of dramatic effect, he was right up there with Ralf Rangnick saying the United team needed open-heart surgery, a comment that still resonates almost three years later.
It's a high-risk strategy on Amorim's part and one that presumably aims to snap his players out of their lethargy and get a reaction.
Yesterday there was no shortage of former professionals who thought that his words will not go down well in the locker room. Only time will tell if it has the desired effect or if it backfires for Amorim, but the first signs yesterday were promising.
The players seem to assume their share of responsibility for the club's situation. After all, it's not like the problems started only after Amorim walked through the door in November.
Overall, his honesty and the direct approach he has brought to the club is appreciated. It was also noted after the defeat to Brighton that the Portuguese had reached his lowest point yet at United.
“Not angry, just very, very sad,” said a locker room source. “No one had seen him like that before and the players noticed.” They know it's not their fault.
Amorim's behavior was not much brighter when he faced the media. “In 10 Premier League games we won two. “I know,” he said. 'Can you imagine what this is for a Manchester United fan? Can you imagine what this is for me? We have a new manager who is losing more than the previous one.'
It was what Amorim said next that received less attention than his comment about his team being the worst in United's history.
Amorim's team has added only 11 points in the 11 games that Rubén Amorim has directed
The home defeat to Brighton confirmed United's worst home start to a season in 131 years.
“I'm not going to change, no matter what happens,” he added. “That's why I say we're going to suffer because I'll keep doing the same thing.”
Once again it was a high-risk strategy, this time with employers not thinking twice about sacking one of the men who brought him to Old Trafford, sporting director Dan Ashworth, after 159 days at the club. position.
With United 13th in the Premier League, Sir Jim Ratcliffe cannot be blamed for getting a little nervous when the captain of a ship in such rough seas insists he is going full steam ahead.
Fortunately, Ineos know a thing or two about sailing and all signs from the United hierarchy yesterday were that they still have faith in Amorim's Plan A.
Indeed, sources suggested that United would be more alarmed if their manager made a sudden U-turn and abandoned the 3-4-3 philosophy that was his trademark at Sporting Lisbon and remains his modus operandi.
In the club's hierarchy it is recognized that the fault lies not with the system, but with individual errors and some players who lack the basics in terms of effort and application.
“The training was good at Anfield and at the Emirates,” said one insider, referring to United's impressive draw against leaders Liverpool and penalty shootout victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup.
No one in the halls of power at Old Trafford was swayed by those results, nor was there much of a surprise when United narrowly avoided an embarrassing home defeat to Southampton and were again overtaken by Brighton.
With United in 13th place, you can't blame Sir Jim Ratcliffe for getting a little nervous
The Red Devils are 13th in the standings after winning just seven of their 22 league games.
Take the rough with the smooth and all that. As long as United show some improvement and start moving up the table soon, there will be no problem. Meanwhile, Amorim is understood to be trying to develop a new mentality in the way the team trains and plays.
Sunday was not the first time the United boss has insisted he will not compromise on his beliefs. Some would say it was a big risk to change tactics mid-season with a group of players used to a different approach under Erik ten Hag, but he is said to be frustrated that the system is being blamed for United's failings.
United chief executive Omar Berrada witnessed first-hand Pep Guardiola's initial problems at Manchester City, and the short-term pain is expected to bring long-term gains for Amorim.
As for his choice of words over the weekend, no one is willing to tell him to control himself. It seems we haven't heard Amorim's latest home truths.