Analysis

Manchester United: Ruben Amorim admits Man Utd are in relegation fight

United just seven pojnts above the drop zone; Amorim side's next match is at league leaders Liverpool on Super Sunday

Tuesday 31 December 2024 14:05, UK

Ruben Amorim has admitted that Manchester United are in a fight to avoid relegation from the Premier League after their humbling defeat to Newcastle.

The dismal 2-0 loss at Old Trafford, described as "embarrassing" and "grim" by former club captain Gary Neville, means United are just seven points above the drop zone at the halfway stage of the season.

Asked directly on Sky Sports if Manchester United were now in a relegation fight, Amorim conceded: "That is really clear. It's one of the most difficult moments in the history of Man Utd and we have to address it with honesty."

Amorim added later in his press conference: "When you have these kind of moments, especially in the big clubs, it's really hard to turn things around, especially when you don't have a lot of time to train the basics, to cope with the difficult moments.

"So we have to acknowledge our position, the way you see the league, everybody can beat everybody. So we have to engage and focus on surviving."

United's next match is on Sunday at league leaders Liverpool, live on Sky Sports.

United slump to new low against impressive Newcastle

In-form Newcastle simply overpowered Amorim's side in the opening 30 minutes, with United's fourth consecutive defeat effectively confirmed long before half-time.

"They were the better team and they started very strong," Amorim said. "It was very hard for us to turn it around after we conceded the first goal because of the results before and we didn't have the positioning to cope with the difficult moments. The players suffered a lot on the pitch and it was really hard on us. Newcastle are a better team."

Amorim's team selection was once again the focus of scrutiny as Christian Eriksen and Casemiro were, as predicted before the game by Neville and Sky Sports colleague Jamie Carragher, overrun in midfield. Joshua Zirkzee, selected as an inside left, barely lasted half an hour before he was replaced to widespread jeering inside Old Trafford.

Before the game, Amorim had responded with defiance when asked if he would change his approach.

"I was hired because of that idea, and in these difficult moments if you change your mind, it is the end for any coach," he said.

And pressed again following the defeat on whether he will consider changing his approach, which has been headlined by a switch to a 3-4-3 formation, a defiant Amorim vowed to stick to his principles.

"It is a choice that everyone has to make in football. If I think this is the best thing for the team, I will continue to pass my message."

Neville and Carragher condemn Amorim's team selection

The concern, however, is that United are currently regressing, even after the mid-season change of manager following the replacement of Erik ten Hag by Amorim.

"There's no doubt it's deteriorated performances and results in this last few weeks," said Neville. "They're finding it very difficult, some of the players with the system, they're finding it very difficult with the confidence, and the concern is that they're getting dragged into a fight down there near the bottom.

"It is really grim. That first half-hour was hard to watch.

"A lot of what we saw we knew was going to happen. I didn't see any balance in the team selection. Once l saw the team, l thought it would be a struggle."

Carragher was equally scathing.

"We have been speaking about Eriksen and Casemiro on this show 18 months ago. These players can't run. We know that. That is on the manager putting these two players in that position and in that system.

"But right now it is not just about tonight. United have lost five of their last six. That's relegation form."

How long can Man Utd slump go on?

Sky Sports' Adam Bate at Old Trafford:

"With bad results, it's really difficult to sell an idea," Ruben Amorim told Sky Sports before Manchester United's 2-0 defeat to Newcastle. "I was hired because of that idea, and in these difficult moments if you change your mind, it is the end for any coach." But sticking with that idea brings problems too.

Manchester United were a mess from the outset against Newcastle. Some of it is down to players bereft of confidence. The sad sight of Joshua Zirkzee being booed from the field before the break was emblematic of a group of players who look unhappy in their work.

But a system is supposed to make their jobs easier not harder and whatever your view of the quality of the squad inherited by Amorim it is increasingly difficult to argue that this is not at least part of the problem. Too many of them look uncomfortable in their roles.

Diogo Dalot was stationed so high up the pitch for much of the game that it would have been more natural to have a left winger there rather than an erstwhile right-back. When he did get the ball he could only shovel it inside rather than provide any genuine width.

Noussair Mazraoui fared little better on the other flank and Matthijs de Ligt does not want to be dragged into wide areas as he was by Alexander Isak. Lisandro Martinez is one of the few this shape is said to suit and he endured a wretched evening in red.

Amorim would no doubt have preferred to have come into this job last summer or next rather than be plunged into a congested fixture list and asked to fix problems on the fly. But the hope would have been that he could muddle through and build for next season.

That remains the hope but it surely needs United to pick up or risk beginning that rebuild on the back foot, being doubted even before his first full season in charge. As he himself acknowledges, there is an idea to sell - to the players, to the public, and to his bosses.

Amorim does not need a trophy. A season out of Europe could even make things simpler. There is no expectation United fire. Just function. But a third Premier League defeat in a row without so much as scoring a goal, is unacceptable even at this low ebb.

Man Utd's busy January

Sunday January 5: Liverpool vs Man Utd - Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports

Sunday January 12: Arsenal vs Man Utd - FA Cup third round, kick-off 3pm

Thursday January 16: Man Utd vs Southampton - Premier League, kick-off 8pm

Sunday January 19: Man Utd vs Brighton - Premier League, kick-off 2pm

Thursday January 23: Man Utd vs Rangers - Europa League, kick-off 8pm

Sunday January 26: Fulham vs Man Utd - Premier League, kick-off 7pm

Thursday January 30: FCSB vs Man Utd - Europa League, kick-off 8pm

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