Ruben Amorim does not believe his position as Manchester United coach is comfortable even at this early stage. He warns: “Every manager is in danger.”
Amorim failed to make an immediate impact when he arrived at Old Trafford from Sporting CP, losing five of his first 10 games at the helm in all competitions.
Their last defeat came against Wolves on Boxing Day, with Matheus Cunha and Hwang Hee-chan on target at Molineux after Bruno Fernandes was sent off early in the second half.
Amorim is the first United manager to lose five of his first ten games in charge since Walter Crickmer lost six of his first ten games in January 1932.
They sit a lowly fourteenth in the Premier League, having lost four of their last five games in the competition, as many defeats as in the previous fifteen (seven wins, four draws).
Things don't get any easier for the Red Devils as they host Newcastle United on Monday before visiting Anfield to play Liverpool on January 5.
“The manager of Manchester United can never feel comfortable in any case,” Amorim said at the pre-match press conference on Friday.
“You can say that I have been here for a month and have had four training sessions, but we are not winning. That is the reality.”
9 – Between them, the two Manchester clubs have lost nine games in all competitions in December (United 5, City 4), the most in a single month since April 1971 (also 9). Rain. pic.twitter.com/5gQgn8m92g
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 27, 2024
United paid Sporting £10.6million in compensation to win Amorim away from the Lisbon giants, but Amorim knows investment will not save him if their poor form continues.
“I know that if we don't win, regardless of whether they pay the buyout or not, every manager is in danger,” Amorim said. “I like that because that's the job.”
When he agreed to take the job, Amorim reportedly asked United chief executive Omar Berrada if he could start his duties at the end of the season.
Given the team's recent problems, Amorim was asked if he would have preferred to wait before taking charge, but he has put that thought out of his mind.
“There's no point in talking or thinking about it,” Amorim said. “I'm here and I have to concentrate on my work.
“It's part of football to have these difficult moments. I already knew it was going to be difficult.
“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 very difficult. We have to survive to have time and then improve the team.”
5 – Manchester United became the first team in the Premier League era to lose five games in a row in all competitions in December, losing five games in both December 2023 and December 2024. Humbug. pic.twitter.com/6aHgtwymmK
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 27, 2024
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