RUBEN AMORIM knows that Manchester United fans are “tired” of the current state of their club.
And the new manager accepts that he, like any other manager, risks losing his job if results do not improve.
Amorim has only been at Old Trafford for a month but the 2-0 Boxing Day defeat at Wolves was his fifth defeat in seven games and he now prepares for Monday's tricky visit to in-form Newcastle.
United have already lost half of Amorim's first ten games, while predecessor Erik ten Hag has lost just two of his last ten games at the helm.
The Dutchman won only three of those matches, while Amorim had four.
But the Red Devils also scored less under the new boss and scored only seventeen goals in that time, compared to eighteen goals under Ten Hag.
United also scored seventeen goals under Amorim, with Ten Hag maintaining a poorer defense, conceding just eleven goals.
Amorim, whose former Sporting Lisbon side have scored 19 times in his last five games there, is contracted until the summer of 2027 and claims that is long enough to be assessed.
But Amorim knows he may not have much time left if he fails to pull the club out of this terrible mess, with the 39-year-old realizing the massive turnaround needed must start soon.
United paid Amorim's £8.3m buyout clause to get him out of Sporting Lisbon, although the team has deteriorated in recent weeks.
Amorim said: “The manager of Manchester United can never feel comfortable anyway.
“They paid the buyout clause to get me. I know that if you don't win, every manager is in danger and I like that because that's the job.
“You can say that I have been here for a month and have only had a few training sessions, but we are not winning. That is the reality and I feel quite comfortable with it.
“We have to fight everything because our supporters are always there, but they are tired of this moment. It's part of football to have these difficult moments. I already knew it was going to be tough.
“You expect to win more games, to have players with more confidence to sell the idea and work and improve things. Right now it's really hard. We have to survive to have time and then improve the team.”
This is currently the worst United team in a lifetime. After the defeat to Wolves, Amorim admitted that the team needed to 'survive' in the Premier League as they now sit 14th, eight points clear of the relegation zone.
Another concern is that United are struggling to defend corners and free kicks. This season they have conceded ten goals, five of them under Amorim.
United keeper Andre Onana conceded a goal from Matheus Cunha's corner at Wolves, while Amorim's team made the same mistake at Spurs seven days earlier.
The fact that Wolves had practiced trying to score straight from corners during the week shows there is a problem. Against Wolves, Onana was not protected by any defender.
Amorim said: “Moments of silence become so important. We have to learn, even with the little boys.”
United's new coach was also asked whether United fans could play a role against Newcastle by boosting the atmosphere.
He said: “I wouldn't dare ask anything from our fans. They give us everything: a full stadium, they always support us and blow loss after loss. I just want to give something to the fans, not ask something from them.”
But Amorim also admitted the mood at Old Trafford could be tense if Newcastle attack.
He said: “We have to expect that any Newcastle play near our penalty area will make the stadium nervous and our players have to deal with that.
“So it's a very strong team, very fast with a lot of speed, and we work a lot with the same coach. We want to be competitive and try to win the game, that's all.”
United are without captain Bruno Fernandes following his suspension against Wolves.
Asked if former skipper Harry Maguire could be reinstated, Amorim said: “He will have to wait until the match.
“It works really well. He is focused on the work, not on what people say. Harry doesn't make excuses, even though he's had difficult moments.
“I think he is an example in that respect, so he is there to play and help the team. That's what he's trying to do.”
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