Has Amorim created a 'him or me' situation?

"In every department - the scouting department, the sporting director – [they] need to do their job. I will do mine for 18 months and then we move on," Ruben Amorim said after the draw with Leeds United.

There were some eyebrows raised when Jason Wilcox landed the technical director's job at Manchester United in April 2024, given he had only done the job for a short period at Southampton, having previously been academy director at Manchester City.

Wilcox had his role beefed up even more when Dan Ashworth left United just five months after arriving from Newcastle.

He has largely operated away from the media spotlight, offering a polite "trust the process" comment to journalists when he walked past them after the win at Crystal Palace in November.

Wilcox did speak to United's in-house media but perhaps his most revealing comments came at a gala dinner for the Association of Manchester United players in September, which the club did not know was going to be recorded and posted online.

"I didn't realise how big this club was," he said.

"It is just a wonderful football club and I'm extremely privileged. I just pray that we get the opportunity to turn it around. I really feel that it's not 'will we win again,' it's 'when we are going to win again'.

"It's going to take time. It's not a quick fix, especially now with the [profitability and sustainability] regulations. We needed to change the playing squad. We've now made some really good additions this summer.

"Sometimes taking players out of the squad is just as important as the players that you bring in.

"We've got to try to bring the culture and the respect back to Manchester United. Whether you work for Manchester United or you play against Manchester United, you feel like you're part of something special."

It remains to be seen if Amorim's comments following the game at Elland Road has created a 'him or me' situation.