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Ruben Amorim says the board should give space to different people if bad results continue next season
It means United have now equalled their worst Premier League run of seven games without a victory, set back in 1992 although that particular run consisted of five draws as opposed to this period of five defeats. Likewise, it also means that Ruben Amorim has only managed to record two top-flight victories since January 26, which came against relegated duo Ipswich Town and Leicester City.
Pressure is already piling up on the Portuguese coach, who has done little to turn around his side’s league form after inheriting a team 14th in the table back in November from predecessor Erik ten Hag. The club’s European progress has offered some slight respite for the Sporting CP man, who appeared a frustrated figure in his post-match interview.
He said: “I talk with the board, with everybody and even with the fans in every moment. I have a clear feeling that I know what this team needs to be so much better, and that has helped me to maintain that level of not go down so much and not so high in some moments.”
Ruben Amorim says Man Utd lack something ‘profound’
Ruben Amorim described last weekend’s defeat as an embarrassment, he said after the West Ham loss: “It’s hard to find another word. I’m really embarrassed that in 25 games we’ve won six. Something is wrong in the way we are playing football, and sometimes it is not about the way we play tactically and technically.”
Amorim went on to criticize the mental side of his team and admitted something ‘profound’ was wrong with the football club.
“That feeling that I’m talking to fight until the end, the way we face competition. It’s not okay to lose, it’s not okay to draw. “Our position is unacceptable and, for me, that is not a lack of confidence, that is a lack of something more profound.”
United’s European progress has offered some respite in what has otherwise been a catastrophic campaign. However, Amorim admitted that winning the competition will not be enough for him to remain in his post if a similar patter emerges next season.
He added: "Everybody here has to think seriously about a lot of things. Everybody is thinking about the [Europa League] final. The final is not the issue. We have bigger things to think about. I'm talking about myself and the culture in the club and the culture in the team. We need to change that.
"It's a decisive moment in the history of the club. We need to be really strong in the summer and to be brave because we will not have a next season like this. If we start like this, if the feeling is still here, we should give the space to different people."
How Ruben Amorim compares to previous Man Utd managers
Since arriving on November 11, Ruben Amorim has won 15, drawn 10 and lost 14 of his opening 39 games in the Old Trafford dugout. This gives him a win percentage of 39.47%, the second worst win record of any United boss since Alex Ferguson’s departure, with only former interim boss Ralf Rangnick’s 37.93% being worse.
However, it’s worth noting that the majority of Amorim’s victories have in fact come in Europe and in the Premier League his figures are much more alarming. United have won just six of their 25 league matches, drawing six and losing 13 since Amorim’s arrival - this gives him a win percentage of 24% in the league, which is not even half of David Moyes’ 50% which is the second worst league record.
Amorim has an average points per game record of 0.96 in the league, which is significantly lower than any of Alex Ferguson’s successors, who all have at least 1.54 or higher in Premier League games.
Here is each United manager’s (minimum five games in charge) overall win percentage across all competitions since Alex Ferguson’s retirement, while also factoring in the number of major trophies they have won. Not including Community Shield.
Jose Mourinho - 58.33% (2 trophies)
Erik ten Hag - 54.69% (2 trophies)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - 54.17%
Louis van Gaal - 52.43% (one trophy)
David Moyes - 52.94%
Ruben Amorim - 39.47%
Ralf Rangnick (interim) - 37.93%
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