Ruben Amorim didn't get the warmest of welcomes into Manchester United. With the hiring coming at a hefty cost-the club had to pay a release clause of €11 million to Sporting-the Portuguese coach knew things would be dicey, but not many would have predicted this being such a hard and arduous mission at this early stage.
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With four losses in seven games, including that disastrous Boxing Day defeat against Wolverhampton, United is closer to the relegation zone than the Champions League spots. The outlook seems grim, but what is really at stake?
The weight of a legacy in decline
Manchester United has always been one of those weighty names in the world of soccer, but the structure presented now shows a complete failure of this team. After the era of Alex Ferguson, an interchangeability of managers showed what board members seemed to lack: an ideology. Ruben Amorim is just one more cog in an old machinery desperate for meaning.
It isn't just unrealistic to expect Amorim to produce quick fixes; it's cruel. Only four weeks into the job, it's improbable that any manager could rebuild a fragmented team with visible defensive flaws and a midfield that was singularly lacking in creativity.
Straightforward statements, clear-cut warning
Ruben Amorim's words of defiance after the defeat to Wolves sounded like a warning to fans and, perhaps, to the board itself. He knows he's in a vulnerable position. "If we don't win, we're all in danger," Amorim said.
This frankness is in contrast to the generic rhetoric that is more common among managers who feel the heat. Amorim isn't promising miracles; he's asking for patience. But at a club like Manchester United, patience is a rare currency.
On-field problems
No team in the league has let in more set-piece goals this season than Manchester United. It's almost symbolic. A defense that can't defend set-pieces isn't just tactically poor, but also not concentrated and not confident.
Amorim is aware of his problem and doesn't look for excuses. He speaks of the need to "copy the opponent," to use the same weapons when the opponent has a set-piece.
Bruno Fernandes' absence and its emotional impact
To make things even more complicated, United go to Newcastle without their captain, Bruno Fernandes, who is suspended following a Boxing Day red card. Bruno's absence puts even more pressure on Amorim and players who, until now, have not shown they can take responsibility.
The long-term challenge
Amorim insists he needs time to implement his ideas, but he confesses that he doesn't know either how long it will take to turn the situation around. He speaks about "making the most of every minute of training" and improving "day by day."
Something which makes perfect sense with the long-term projects yet can sound like hot air for a fanbase tired with promises. But it reflects a coach who understands what modern soccer is all about:.
The shadow of dismissal
The Premier League is not exactly known for giving too much time to its managers. The pressure for immediate results creates a cycle where long-term projects rarely find space to grow. Amorim knows this. His statement that "no manager is ever safe" feels like a premonition.
But will Manchester United's board learn from past mistakes? So far, history suggests otherwise. There is a clear pattern to the succession of managers: hire, promise, and fire when things don't improve in double-quick time.