Tuesday’s briefing: Ruben Amorim and Wilfried Nancy sacked on manic Monday

Monday marked meltdown point for two of the biggest clubs in Britain as Ruben Amorim and Wilfried Nancy paid the price for poor form at Manchester United and Celtic respectively.

Old Trafford instantly went into overdrive with talk of potential replacements, with ex-player Darren Fletcher and current Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner seemingly at the top of United’s wanted list.

Meanwhile, Celtic acted to quell rising uncertainty by reappointing Martin O’Neill, who briefly took the caretaker role prior to Nancy’s ill-judged appointment, until the end of the season.

Elsewhere, Liam Rosenior looks set to step into the breach at Stamford Bridge after talks on Monday, while Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is bracing for a defensive crisis.

Darren Fletcher takes the reins at Old Trafford

Fletcher is getting to grips with his new role as temporary boss of Manchester United after the club finally called time on Amorim’s turbulent reign.

Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag as head coach in November 2024 but seldom inspired and a failure to progress on the pitch was increasingly matched by a frosty relationship off it.

“With Manchester United sitting sixth in the Premier League, the club’s leadership has reluctantly made the decision that it is the right time to make a change,” the club said in a statement.

“This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish.”

Fletcher, who is stepping up from his role as under-18s boss, is due to face the media on Tuesday and could remain in charge for Sunday’s FA Cup third-round tie against Brighton.

Gary Neville admits timing of Ruben Amorim departure a ‘shock’

Gary Neville insists the speed of Amorim’s departure from Manchester United came as a “shock” after the Portuguese was sacked on Monday morning.

Amorim leaves with United sixth in the Premier League, Sunday’s draw at Leeds coming five days after a dismal 1-1 home stalemate against basement club Wolves.

Former United defender Neville told Sky Sports News: “When a manager is sacked, it’s a poor reflection on everybody. It means it’s not worked.

“Ultimately everyone loses, particularly when you are sacking a manager partway through the season. It’s very difficult to get an adequate replacement in.

“I am surprised it’s happened this morning, I’m not surprised it’s happened. I didn’t realise it would happen so quickly. I did think they’d get through another couple of weeks and try and work out what to do.”

Martin O’Neill makes swift Celtic return

O’Neill has returned to lead Celtic for the rest of the season after Nancy was sacked.

Celtic moved quickly to take O’Neill back after his successful interim spell before Nancy’s appointment.

O’Neill and Nancy both had eight games in charge and contrasting fortunes. The 73-year-old won seven matches, while Nancy lost six.

The former Republic of Ireland boss said on Celtic’s website: “I am really pleased, in fact, very honoured to be asked back to manage the team again and I am looking forward to getting back to work again with the players.

“I know we would all have hoped for things to have worked out differently under Wilfried and I personally want to wish him good luck with everything he does in the game. He is a fine man and I am sure he will go on and achieve success again, I have no doubt of that.”

Rosenior closing in on Chelsea job

Rosenior met with Chelsea’s sporting directors on Monday ahead of his expected appointment as head coach, the Press Association understands.

The Strasbourg coach travelled to London on Sunday in order to meet with Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, with the club looking to install a replacement promptly for Enzo Maresca who departed on Thursday.

The former Hull manager is the leading candidate to become Chelsea’s fourth permanent boss since owners BlueCo took control of the club in 2022.

Following Sunday’s 1-1 draw away against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, interim head coach Calum McFarlane said he expected to take first-team training on Monday but that his brief did not extend much beyond that.

Chelsea have moved quickly since parting company with Maresca on New Year’s Day, with the Italian leaving abruptly following a deterioration in his relationship with bosses.

City confirm Josko Gvardiol suffered broken leg in Chelsea draw

Manchester City have confirmed defender Josko Gvardiol suffered a broken leg in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.

Gvardiol was one of two City centre-backs who went off injured in the second half, along with Ruben Dias, before Enzo Fernandez scored a stoppage-time equaliser for the visitors.

Revealing that Gvardiol sustained a tibial fracture to his right leg, City added: “The defender will have surgery later this week and assessment remains ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the injury and expected prognosis.”

The extent of the injury to Dias is not yet known, but City boss Guardiola previously acknowledged that it “doesn’t look good” for either player.

What’s on today

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo comes face to face with his former club Nottingham Forest surely needing a win to stand any realistic hopes of holding onto his job.

The Hammers have plummeted in recent weeks – underlined by Saturday’s shocking 3-0 defeat at rock-bottom Wolves – and another loss would leave them a huge seven points adrift of safety.

Rangers look to maintain their growing momentum when they face managerless Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership, while bottom club Livingston host St Mirren.