Ruben Amorim has doubled down on his comments on Manchester United's relegation, saying it is still a “possibility” in May, in a bid to be “really fair” to the club's players and supporters.
United are on a four-match losing streak in all competitions and have also suffered defeat in five of their last six Premier League games, leaving them in fourteenth place.
Amorim's United are closer to the relegation zone than the seventh spot that would secure European football next season, let alone the top four, as they prepare to face league leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
Since the 39-year-old coach took over at Old Trafford, only Leicester and Southampton have scored fewer points than Amorim's United – and the Portuguese boss surprised many by admitting the club could challenge for Premier League status this season to stay.
Amorim spoke exclusively to Sky Sports' David Craig on Friday about his team's relegation battle: “I think it's important to be very clear with the fans and especially with the players.
“If you look at the table, we are closer to relegation than first place. I'm not looking at the table right now.
“That [relegation] is a possibility, but I'm not thinking about that, I just want to watch the next game. I think it is very important to be very clear with the players and the supporters.”
Amorim is cautious about Rashford, but Amad and Maguire are on their way to new deals
Amorim also provided an update on the future of Marcus Rashford, with the England international's future at Old Trafford in limbo.
Rashford admitted in an interview last month that he is looking for a new challenge, with Amorim leaving the forward out of four successive matchday squads.
He returned to the United squad earlier this week following the 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on Monday Night Football, but was an unused substitute. Amorim has since confirmed that Rashford will miss Sunday's trip to Liverpool due to illness.
“I have already spoken a lot about Marcus, it depends more on him than on me,” Amorim added. “He must really want it. He is here, he is in our squad, so he is our player and he is ready to play if I decide.”
“At that moment I was really focused on turning things around, on scoring one goal to open the match. And I chose Garna, for example.[cho] to do the work. I wasn't focused on whether or not I was going to turn on Marcus because he was away for four games. It wasn't. When he is there he is ready to play, but I chose Garnacho.”
Amorim has also confirmed that the club will activate a one-year option to extend Harry Maguire's contract.
Maguire is out of contract this summer but Amorim confirmed the former club captain would stay until the end of this season, while adding that Amad Diallo is “close” to agreeing a new contract with the club.
“Amad is close,” Amorim said ahead of Manchester United's visit to Liverpool live on Sky Sports on Sunday.
“Harry, we are going to activate our option. I spoke to him this morning and I told him that he needs to improve his play on the pitch, we really need him. And he also needs to improve as a leader.”
“We all know the situation he had here, but we really need him right now, so we're going to, thankfully, activate the option for Harry.”
Amorim: We are 'starving' for leaders
Maguire lost the captaincy at United and fell down the pecking order under former manager Erik ten Hag – seemingly on his way out of the club – but has found new life under Amorim, who prefers to play with three centre-backs.
Although Maguire did not take the armband for Monday's 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle despite the absence of suspended captain Bruno Fernandes, Amorim said his leadership qualities were crucial to the club.
“There are moments in a player's career that are different,” Amorim added.
“I think he dealt with his problems very well and if you look at our team, we are hungry for leaders on the pitch.
“He is a leader, he has to improve that part and he has to improve our game. We are happy to continue with him.”
Maguire has made 222 appearances and scored 12 goals since joining United from Leicester City in 2019.
The centre-back has won two major trophies in that time: the Carabao Cup in 2023 and last season's FA Cup.
Amad, meanwhile, has been one of United's better players this season and has scored five goals, including a late winner in last month's dramatic win against rivals Manchester City.
The 22-year-old, who has had loan spells at Rangers and Sunderland, joined from Atalanta in the summer of 2021.
Why Man Utd extend Maguire's stay
Sky Sports News reporter Melissa Reddy:
“In the dark days under Erik ten Hag and now during this heavy storm that Ruben Amorim is trying to muddle through, Harry Maguire has emerged as one of the most consistent and reliable players.
“He has gone through some terrible periods in his career at Manchester United, but through it all he has remained professional. He has trained very hard, worked very hard and fought his way back to basics.”
“Amorim has held Maguire up several times as an example to other players going through testing periods, to show them how to get out of them.
“He also told us that this club is desperate for leaders and that Maguire is one of them.”
Maguire: Amorim completely opposite to Ten Hag
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News in late 2024, Maguire backed Amorim to turn around United's dismal season, adding that he felt Amorim's job is much more difficult because he is the “complete opposite” of Erik ten Hag.
Amorim has inherited a squad that Ten Hag has built to play transitional, counter-attacking football, making them highly unsuited to his philosophy, which emphasizes ball possession and deploying a high line.
Amorim also has the added complication of preferring to play with three players at the back, but Maguire said he has what it takes to overcome his difficult start and take the club higher.
“The problem is with the managers and the styles. It's not like they've come in and have the same style,” Maguire told Sky Sports. 'They are completely opposite when it comes to what they want and what they demand.
“So the transition period will be tough. We all have great confidence in the manager and his coaching staff. I am sure things will change. He knows exactly what he has to do to get this club back.”
“He came in and did everything he had to do. He's really demanding.”
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