Amorim calls for time but warns every manager is in danger of sack

Ruben Amorim has admitted that even he is not safe from being sacked despite starting as Manchester United head coach just over a month ago.

The Portuguese has lost four out of his opening seven matches at United – with a 2-0 Boxing Day defeat to Wolves being the third straight defeat in all competitions, to leave the club 14th in the Premier League table and out of the Carabao Cup.

Amorim took over as Erik ten Hag’s full-time replacement at the club on November 11, with United paying €11m (£9.15m) to secure his services from Sporting Lisbon.

But after a month in charge, Man Utd are closer in points to the relegation zone than the Champions League places heading into their final match of a topsy-turvy 2024 at home to in-form Newcastle on December 30, live on Sky Sports. Amorim’s side will be without captain Bruno Fernandes for that game after his Boxing Day red card.

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“The manager of Manchester United cannot be – never, no matter what – comfortable,” said Amorim. “And I know the business that I’m in. If we don’t win, regardless if they paid the buyout [clause for me] or not, every manager is in danger.

“And I like that because that is our job. So I understand the question. You can say I’m here a month and I have four training [sessions] but we are not winning. So that is the reality and I’m quite comfortable with that.”

Amorim did, however, stress that his long-term project to turn United around needs time – but could not determine how long that would take.

“The idea needs time,” he said. “I said it before to you guys that this will be a tough moment and we are far from the end of this moment and that’s it. We have to continue and focus on the next game.”

Asked how long he thinks it will take to make his mark, Amorim said: “I have no idea. No idea. Instead of me trying to understand how much time it will take, just day by day.

“Improving, trying to see the videos, using every minute of training and try to win some points because it’s really important in this moment.”

Amorim on set-pieces: We need to copy other teams

United’s current plight is no better summarised than their defensive set piece record. United let Matheus Cunha’s corner fly all the way in over Andre Onana’s head – it is the second time they have conceded directly from a corner in seven days.

No side have conceded more goals from corners this season than United, who are level with Boxing Day opponents Wolves on nine.

“After a defeat that I don’t walk to talk about that,” said Amorim about United’s set piece record. “But you can see every corner nowadays is an opportunity, so sometimes you forget the small guys and the talented guys and you put 11 players on corners and free-kicks and you can do everything inside the box.

“That is the rules and we can’t cry about it: but do the same thing. So we have to do the same thing to the opponent, that is my goal at the moment.

“What I’m saying is if set pieces are becoming so important that you can everything, we have to learn it and do the same thing, even with the small guys. We have to copy it and do the same thing. Not change the rules, but to use the rules to also score from set-pieces.”

The damning stats behind Amorim’s start as Man Utd boss

• Manchester United have lost four of their last five games in the Premier League, as many defeats as in their previous 15 matches in the competition (won seven, drawn four).
• Only Everton and Southampton (both nine) have failed to score in more different games this season than United’s seven.
• Amorim is the first Manchester United manager to lose as many as five of his first 10 games in charge of the club in all competitions since Walter Crickmer in January 1932 (six/10).
• No side has conceded more goals from corners in the Premier League this season than Manchester United (nine – level with Wolves).
• Matheus Cunha’s strike was the second goal the Red Devils have conceded directly from a corner in the competition after Junior Stanislas for Bournemouth in December 2015.
• Bruno Fernandes is the first Manchester United player to be sent off three times in a season in all competitions since Nemanja Vidic in 2008-09 (also three).

Man Utd looking long term but issues need addressing now

Analysis from Sky Sports’ Adam Bate at Molineux:

The red card to Bruno Fernandes obviously offered mitigating circumstances and there was enough tension inside Molineux to believe that Manchester United might conjure an equaliser until very late in the game. But the 2-0 defeat to Wolves was still alarming.

Another stuttering display, another goal conceded directly from a corner let alone from a set-piece situation. Much of the focus at United is now long term but that is something that Amorim must address quickly to avoid this season going from bad to worse.

Asked how long it would take for his principles of play to take hold, Amorim suggested he had no idea. In a game that started with both Portuguese coaches adopting a 3-4-2-1 formation, it was the Wolves players who looked more comfortable with that system.

Even when the game was 11 against 11, United lacked zip, moving the ball far too slowly to take advantage against opponents who began the game in the bottom three. Amorim will be more convinced than ever that wholesale changes are required for next season.

But next season looks a long way away if United continue to play like this. It is Newcastle next then back-to-back away games against Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League and FA Cup, respectively. This could get messier before it gets better.