Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim insists he is more concerned about his team's losing streak than the possibility of being sacked. Despite seven losses in 13 Premier League matches, which has left United languishing in 13th place, Amorim says that his primary worry is the team's performance on the pitch.
The Portuguese coach, who will lead his team against Tottenham tomorrow (Sunday), will stick with his tactical system, even though it has not been delivering results.
"I accept that," Amorim said. "It’s a choice you make when you’re a coach, but I truly believe in the way I do things."
"I know at this kind of club, with this kind of pressure, you're always at risk.
"I'm aware of that, but it's not my biggest concern. Losing games is the hardest part of my job, not being sacked. I just want to win games."
When questioned if his unwavering adherence to his principles could be seen as a weakness rather than a strength, Amorim conceded: "Yes, it can be."
"I think it can be a weakness in that moment, but then, if you believe in one thing or another, then you have to stick with that.
“I feel we focus a lot on the system, but the way we want to play this system is completely different than we're doing at the moment.
"But we're trying to improve so, to be direct with your question, yes, sometimes it's a strength and sometimes it's a weakness. I think everybody knows that.
"You have one idea. We will try to adapt the way we play within the same system and then you can play in different styles.
"If you change the profile of two players, you change the way the team plays, so for me that's more important than the system, where you start with the players.
"The first thing is I just want to win the games. Believe it or not, that is my only focus."
Despite flak for his ever-changing line-ups, Amorim defended his decision to play £29.2million newcomer Patrick Dorgu out of position in United's nail-biting 2-1 FA Cup triumph against Leicester.
"Dorgu was doing that in Lecce and sometimes having a left foot on the right is important," Amorim asserted, "Especially when teams mark us one-on-one or are man-marking."
"I have the experience of playing that way against a 4-3-3 or a 5-4-1 and I know what kind of characteristics I need for it.
"But we also need time to work on everything. If I have an idea and if the connection is not yet there, I have to find that connection.
"So I'm trying everything to win the games and that’s why at times I'm changing so many things – I just want to win games."
With injuries and sickness sidelining several key players, Amorim has turned to United's youth talent, including teenage striker Chido Obi, to reinforce the squad.
The teenage sensation from Denmark, who transferred to Manchester United from Arsenal in October, has left fans buzzing with his phenomenal performances. Obi netted a hat-trick in a 5-1 FA Youth Cup triumph over Chelsea. With the squad facing challenges, the youngster could land a coveted spot on the bench for the Tottenham clash.
Amorim revealed: "We have problems this week, so we called some young players to be in our training. He is one of them."
This article was first published on the Mirror