One of the reasons Manchester United fans do not want to get too carried away with the win over Sunderland is the recent past of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
Manchester United fans are on a high after the win over Sunderland, but there is a trepidation about getting too over-enthusiastic.
Head coach Ruben Amorim is yet to win back-to-back Premier League games as head coach, and until he does that at least, United fans fear that his time in the job will remain limited.
United fans have been haunted by years past. The months of October to December have been a haunting period for under pressure managers.
October 2024: Erik ten Hag fired
November 2021: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer fired
December 2018: Jose Mourinho fired
Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring for Manchester United v Newcastle United
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Jose Mourinho stint as manager was delayed, not saved
Seven years ago on October 6, 2018, Jose Mourinho’s spell as manager was saved by a dramatic comeback at Old Trafford.
After United lost the 2018 FA Cup Final to Chelsea, the club endured a miserable summer with Mourinho in foul mood during the preseason.
A poor transfer window where Fred, Diogo Dalot and Lee Grant were the only signings did not help. He was desperate to sign a centre-back, and did not get one.
Heading into the October 6 game against Newcastle at Old Trafford, The Mirror reported that Jose Mourinho was set to be sacked no matter what the outcome of the game.
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Newcastle took a 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes with goals from Kenedy and Yoshinori Muto. The game was turning into a total disaster, and score stayed the same at half-time.
What happened over the next 45 minutes was an impressive show of togetherness from United, with goals from three players who had each struggled under Mourinho.
Substitute Juan Mata scored a free-kick past Martin Dubravka, while Anthony Martial scored an equaliser with 10 minutes to go.
Deep into stoppage time, the much-maligned Alexis Sanchez stepped up to score a header to seal a memorable 3-2 comeback win.
It was Sanchez’s best moment in a Manchester United shirt since his ill-fated signing from Arsenal earlier in 2018.
The win gave Mourinho a win over old rival Rafa Benitez, and kept him in a job. The claims he would be fired irrespective of the result proved to be false.
However, as we would later learn two months later, this result only delayed Mourinho’s sacking, instead of saving him from the axe.
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Amorim aims not to fast-forward history
Jose Mourinho was fired in December 2018, 24 hours after Manchester United were beaten 3-1 by Liverpool at Anfield.
His sacking felt inevitable at that point after he had failed to build on the comeback win over Newcastle two months earlier.
And we have seen in recent years how eventually the axe will fall, if the pattern of results stay the same.
Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United travel to Anfield next. He may be anxious that a big defeat could see him fall under pressure again, and at worst, fast-forward a repeat of Jose Mourinho’s sacking.
United enter the game as the form team, with two wins in three games, while Liverpool have lost three in a row. A statement away win could turn the tables and put Arne Slot under pressure.