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The pressure continues to pile on Ruben Amorim with Manchester United in danger of being dragged into a relegation battle after their latest defeat to Newcastle United.
The 2-0 Premier League loss was their fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions. Currently seven points above the relegation zone, Amorim admitted relegation is a ‘possibility.’
“I think that it is a possibility. We have to be clear with our fans,” he said post-match. “We have to change something but this season will be really hard on everybody. It can make us stronger and we have to fight. It is really hard. It is one of the worst moments in the history of our club, and we have to accept that. Another loss in front of our own supporters.”
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As Amorim tries to navigate through a difficult period at Old Trafford, MEN Sport has taken a look at how the Portuguese media have reacted to United’s current situation.
Evandro Delgado of Sapo, wrote: “The problem is not you Ruben, it’s them. Avoiding a fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions (third in the Premier League) was Amorim’s main goal, in this transition season in which the Portuguese is feeling the pains of growth in the best league in the world. Amorim took charge of a group without will, without flame, without ‘blood in their veins’, without attitude. Impossible to compete like this.
“All these adjectives were very clear in the first minutes of the game against Eddie Howe’s Newcastle as United trailed 1-0 in the fourth minute. A reaction from the crowd was expected, even out of pride but, pure mistake. The team, erratic on the field, accumulated individual mistakes. The midfield formed by [Christian] Eriksen and Casemiro was non-existent, [Sandro] Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton dominated and shook the Red Devils defence.
“It took a cry of revolt in the dressing room, something that Amorim must have given since Manchester United came back with a positive display: more intense in the duels, more assertive and with more will. At least now there was something to fight for. Newcastle endured the attacks, always trying to hurt the Reds in counterattack, with [Anthony] Gordon and [Alexander] Isak. Despite making substitutions in the second half. that was not enough to avoid United from losing their fourth game in a row. Amorim now has six defeats in 11 games.”
A Bola’s Francisco Alves Tavares added: “There is no doubt that the storm has arrived, Ruben Amorim. It’s the big point where Amorim’s team fails. Another night in which the Theatre of Dreams was a nightmare.
“Joshua Zirkzee did not show up, Rasmus Hojlund struggled while midfielders Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and [Sandro] Tonali had a quiet first half due to United’s inability to attack. The players’ gestures still seem to be disconnected from the collective game. The team is slow to take the next step and, especially without Bruno Fernandes, the team’s biggest engine. It has become even more difficult to avoid a night of negative records, which had been holding up for more than 60 years.”
O Jogo pointed out Man United’s negative record, writing: “A 103-year record and other negative marks of Ruben Amorim at Manchester United: Three consecutive defeats in the Premier League had not happened since 1978/79 (from December 1978 to February 1979).
“First time conceding three Premier League defeats in a row without scoring a single goal since 2015. Since September 1962 that United hadn’t recorded five defeats in the league in a month. Collected the worst points mid-way through the season: 22 points in 19 games with their best being 28 points in the 2019/20 season.”
Jornal de Noticias continued: “Newcastle aggravates Manchester United’s crisis and Ruben Amorim’s problems. This was the third consecutive defeat to United in the Premier League, the fifth in the last six days, leaving Amorim under pressure.
“Man United, did not have the Bruno Fernandes who served suspension, improved in the second half, but were not able to score the goal that would relaunch the fight for the final result. After the latest string of results, Amorim heard his first boos.”