Optimism evaporates at Old Trafford as Man United manager Ruben Amorim feels the heat

LONDON – The cautious optimism that Manchester United took into the new season after marquee summer signings has evaporated even before the end of August, and once again manager Ruben Amorim finds himself under an intense spotlight.

One point from their opening two Premier League games means that since taking over from Erik ten Hag, the Portuguese coach has earned just 28 points from 29 top-flight matches in charge. United next face Burnley at Old Trafford on Aug 30.

A rather unfortunate 1-0 home defeat by Arsenal followed by a 1-1 draw at Fulham would not ordinarily have put United back into the crisis mode they ended the last miserable campaign.

But on a stormy night on Aug 27, defeat by fourth-tier Grimsby Town on penalties in the second round of the League Cup was arguably the lowest point of Amorim’s tenure.

Gone are the days when United could shrug off the League Cup as a low-key competition to rotate the squad.

With no European football for only the second season in 35 years following last season’s 15th-placed finish, the Red Devils realistically had the FA Cup and League Cup as viable targets.

So Amorim’s decision to make eight changes to his starting line-up for the clash was surprising.

That said, he still gave a first start to forward Benjamin Sesko alongside fellow new recruit Matheus Cunha, who between them cost United £130 million (S$225 million) in the transfer window.

With United trailing 2-0 after a diabolical first half, Amorim also sent on £65 million signing Bryan Mbeumo and captain Bruno Fernandes after the break.

Had Cunha not made a complete hash of United’s fifth penalty in the shoot-out when a successful conversion would have won the tie, Amorim would have been spared an Aug 28 inquisition.

Instead, Grimsby’s journeymen and youngsters held their nerve, Mbeumo missed his spot kick and the abiding image of the night was an angst-ridden Amorim alone in his dugout, suffering through the shoot-out.

His post-match comments were laced with intrigue.

“I think this is a little bit the limit. I think something has to change. I think the team and the players spoke really loud today,” he said.

Asked on Aug 29 if he wanted to quit, Amorim said: “I felt that after the game. I don’t feel that now. So it’s a little bit like that...

“Sometimes it’s not the result, it’s the way we lost that game or draw that game. That is the thing that is hard to accept.”

He added: “Sometimes I want to quit, sometimes I want to be here for 20 years.” He also blamed his emotions for making those comments after the Grimsby game, admitting that “sometimes I hate my players, sometimes I love my players”. But he insisted that he will not change his approach.

Such was United’s owners enthusiasm to replace ten Hag with Amorim in 2024 that they gave him a now-or-never ultimatum to jump ship in November rather than at the end of the season.

After a draw in his first game, against Ipswich Town, United were 12th in the table. They ended 15th with 42 points, their lowest ever Premier League haul and worst season since 1974.

Even the consolation of winning the Europa League eluded them as they lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the final, a side who finished 17th in the Premier League.

Amorim’s win percentage in all competitions for United is 35.6 per cent and it is a shocking 24.1 per cent in the Premier League.

The much-maligned ten Hag, who delivered two trophies to the cabinet but was deemed not good enough, won 51.8 per cent of his Premier League games for the Old Trafford club.

United have the chance to lower the noise levels around their manager when they host Burnley.

They have not lost any of their last 23 games against promoted clubs but should that run come to end against Burnley, Amorim would head into the international break in a precarious position.

On the sidelines, United have agreed to sell Argentinian winger Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea for £40 million, a source close to the club said on Aug 28.

Garnacho, who played 93 Premier League matches for United, was among five players seeking to exit the club this summer, along with Marcus Rashford, Antony, Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho. Rashford joined Barcelona on loan in July. REUTERS