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 that fortunes at Manchester United will only change as a result of a change in management.

The 52-year-old, whose three seasons at Old Trafford included the historic three-treble season of 1998/99, believes the quality at his former club needs to be improved.

Whether that comes from the existing selection or from further additions, Stam emphasizes that consistency is necessary to wake the Red Devils from their ten-year hibernation.

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

“Everyone knows that when a new manager comes in there is always a boost for a lot of players because everyone is trying to prove themselves again.” Stam, who on behalf of BetMGM told Mail Sport. “They all want to start and show the manager what they can do.

The Red Devils dropped to fourteenth place in the Premier League on Sunday after a defeat at West Ham

Erik ten Hag was fired the next morning, ending his two and a half years in charge of the club

‘After a few weeks of the manager picking his players, you will see that some players are not happy anymore, so you can get the same conditions as before.

‘Is [Amorim] are we going to get these players to a level where they can eventually compete for a spot in the top four? It’s hard to say.

‘We can always look at the manager, we can look at the recruitment, but we also have to look at the players and how they have performed as individuals.

“And we can say that these individuals need to step up and show more consistency and quality in games, otherwise we will face the same problems.”

A liberated United was barely recognizable when they put five past Leicester in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening. The side had failed to score five goals in one match against another Premier League team during Ten Hag’s entire tenure, but managed the feat in the first match after his dismissal.

The Dutchman was removed from his position on Monday following Sunday’s controversial defeat to West Ham, although his position had been under threat for several months before co-owner Ineos finally pulled the trigger.

Regardless, Stam still believes the former Ajax coach deserved to be given more time after signing a new contract and spearheading a summer recruitment campaign.

‘The day after the defeat at West Ham I thought it was a strange decision to fire him.’ Stam added.

The Dutchman looked set to leave 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 performance did not improve, prompting co-owner Ineos to pull the trigger. Pictured: Ineos boss Sir Jim Ratcliffe (centre left)

‘If you talk to your manager during that period about the future and the future, you listen to Ten Hag who says “everything is on the same page”, then you expect him to be there a little longer.

‘You can’t expect United to win every game. We know that the team is also consistent, that they need to develop, perform better, it’s as simple as that. So it was a strange decision to fire Ten Hag.

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

‘I think you have to give him more time to grow into the season, perform better and see where he ends up with this team at the end of the season. It is a bit early to say after two months that he has to go because the results are not there yet.’

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

A renewed United put Leicester to the sword on Wednesday evening to advance to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup

The club have appointed Sporting boss Ruben Amorim following his impressive performance in Portugal

It is understandable that Stam is hesitant to assume that Amorim will bring success to United. As the defender recalls, the mood was also feverish 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 enthusiastic about his arrival because of his playing style. Now there is a young manager with a slightly different philosophy and playing style than Ten Hag.

‘But I do think he can still use the same players that Ten Hag had. [Amorim] has done well in Portugal and won trophies, but that is no guarantee of success at United.

‘You have to wait and see what will happen. Can he build a team with the style he wants to play and then be successful? Every manager wants to bring in his own players and staff, so that will probably cost them a lot of money.’

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