Manchester United have sacked head coach Ruben Amorim, a day after the club was held to a draw by relegation-threatened Leeds United.

The English Premier League (EPL) club announced the decision in a statement published on its official website on Monday.

United said the move was aimed at improving the team’s chances of securing the highest possible league finish, with the club currently sixth on the table and trailing leaders Arsenal by 17 points.

“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.

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

The Red Devils have managed just one win in their last five league matches, a run of form that prompted the club’s leadership to act despite the season still being in contention.

The statement also indicated that the decision followed Amorim’s defiant comments regarding his job security, in which he insisted that he held full managerial authority and was not merely a coach.

“He appeared downbeat on transfers and bristled after the Leeds draw, rebuking reporters over ‘selective information’ while defending his position,” the statement added.

The 40-year-old had maintained that he had no intention of leaving Old Trafford, repeatedly stressing that his role extended beyond coaching duties.