Manchester. Ruben Amorim is out as the coach of Manchester United after just 14 months in the job.

The Premier League club announced Monday that Amorim’s reign was over, a day after he made provocative comments about his role following a 1-1 draw with Leeds.

“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,” United said in a statement. “This will give the team the best opportunity of achieving the highest possible Premier League finish.”

United said youth coach Darren Fletcher will take charge of Wednesday’s match against Burnley.

The Portuguese coach oversaw a slew of unwanted records at the 20-time English champion, including the club’s lowest finish of the Premier League era last season. The United job has proved one of the most difficult in world soccer since club legend Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, with Amorim becoming the sixth permanent manager or coach to be dismissed since then.

Amorim apologized to fans at the end of last season for what he described as a “disastrous” campaign, when United finished 15th in the standings, recorded its highest number of losses in a Premier League season and posted its lowest points total.

Last week, reports said figures at the club had questioned his tactics.

On Sunday, Amorim sought to clarify his position.

“I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United,” he said. “And that is clear.

“I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until another guy comes here to replace me.”

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