Ruben Amorim has admitted that Manchester United now face a grueling battle against relegation after their latest defeat dragged them closer to the drop zone.
United slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle at Old Trafford last night, a result that leaves them in 14th place and just seven points above third-placed Ipswich.
This poor performance means Amorim has made the worst start of any United manager in more than 100 years, losing five of his first eight league matches.
Still reeling from their fifth defeat in their last six games in all competitions, United next face runaway leaders Liverpool and Jamie Carragher issued a stern warning that they are showing 'relegation form', putting some of the blame on Amorim is laid.
After the game, the embattled head coach admitted he was ashamed.
'It's my fault too. I don't think the team is getting any better. It's a bit lost at the moment,” Amorim said. 'It's a bit embarrassing to be coach of Manchester United and lose a lot of games. But we are dealing with difficult moments in everyone's lives.”
Asked if United were in danger of falling, Amorim added: “That is very clear, so we have to fight. “It's a very difficult moment, one of the more difficult moments in Manchester United's history and we have to deal with it honestly.”
Goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton condemned United to further misery, while Ipswich's 2-0 win over Chelsea reduced their lead over the bottom three.
“I am responsible,” Amorim said. “I don't like coming here and making excuses. I think the people in this club have had enough of excuses. I think our club needs a shock and we have to understand that. It's a very difficult moment and we have to fight for the next game.'
However, the 39-year-old has vowed to stick to his 3-4-3 system and lamented the lack of time available to relay his tactics to his players during training.
'You can't go back. You have to keep pushing,” he said. 'We had four training sessions [sessions] all together. I know what you are trying to achieve, but it is very clear: I am here because of my idea and I will continue with my idea until the end.
'I change something tactically in every match. You [media] focus on three defenders, I change something every game. If I didn't believe in it, I would change. I'm not stubborn, I just believe in something and stick to it.'
'We don't have the basis behind the positioning and the way we play to deal with the difficult moments. If you have that, you have something to hold on to in the game, so the players suffered a lot. Newcastle are a better team.'
Gary Neville is also concerned that United have been sucked into the relegation mire.
“He (Amorim) was determined that he will not change, but he must suffer deep inside,” he told Sky Sports. 'I'm worried too. It was really grim. That first half hour was difficult to watch as a United fan.
'There is no doubt about it: performance and results have deteriorated in recent weeks. They find it very difficult, some players with the system find it very difficult with the confidence.
“The concern is that they'll get involved in a fight down there.
'I think they have a lot to do and that means being very friendly. I don't think this group of players are of the quality of those who do that [Erik] Ten Hag has had, Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] has had, Jose Mourinho has had, or Louis van Gaal.
'They weren't good enough for Manchester United in those periods, but they were better teams and better squads than they are now.'
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