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Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is sitting uncomfortably on the hot seat at Old Trafford at the moment.
The Portuguese was appointed by INEOS as Erik ten Hag’s replacement last November following an impressive run with Sporting. Unfortunately, he has failed to replicate that form at the Theatre of Dreams.
Amorim registered a 71% win ratio with the Portuguese club, winning 164 of his 231 games in charge. But at United, he has managed just 17 wins from 47 games so far, including a run of one win from five games this season.
That includes the dismal 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City last weekend, which has seen his win percentage with the club drop to an alarming 36.17%.
Patience yet to bear fruit
United convinced Amorim to take charge in the middle of last season, and were considerate of his poor record at the end of the campaign. The Red Devils finished 15th in the Premier League last season and lost the Europa League final 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur.
INEOS invested over £200m in shiny new signings for their Portuguese head coach, hoping that a full pre-season could help his cause. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case.
The Premier League giants have lost three of their opening five games this season, scoring six goals and conceding nine. They are 14th in the league table, with just four points in four games, and were knocked out of the EFL Cup by League Two minnows Grimsby Town.
Recent reports have suggested that INEOS are still backing Amorim, and that he will be afforded until the end of the season to turn things around. Interestingly, Erik ten Hag was also given similar assurances and was sacked after nine games last season.
A massive decision ahead
According to journalist David McDonnell, writing for The Mirror, Amorim will only be afforded three games to get his act together.
The defeat against Manchester City and the poor start to the season haven’t been taken lightly by the club hierarchy.
United face Chelsea next at Old Trafford on September 20, before travelling to the Gtech Community Stadium to face Brentford later this month. Their final game before October’s international break is against newly promoted Sunderland at the Theatre of Dreams, which, interestingly, is the eighth game of the league season.
By then, the Portuguese’s fate could be sealed, with the Premier League giants already shortlisting five candidates for the job.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has been named as a possible option to replace Amorim at Old Trafford. Other names in the running are Fulham’s Marco Silva, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, former England head coach Gareth Southgate, and USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino.
The Red Devils face Liverpool after the international break, and unless the Portuguese oversees an immediate change of fortunes, he may not be in charge at Anfield.
Interestingly, former United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is also available after parting ways with Besiktas last month.
Featured image Michael Steele via Getty Images
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