Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has described his team as the “worst” in the club’s history following another heavy defeat on Sunday. United lost 3-1 to Brighton at Old Trafford, marking their 10th loss of the season and leaving them in a disappointing 13th place in the Premier League.
Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag in November, was brutally honest in his post-match comments about the team’s struggles. “Imagine what this is like for a Manchester United fan. Imagine what it’s like for me,” he said. “We have a new coach, but we’re losing even more than with the previous one. I know we need to survive this moment. I’m not naive. We can succeed, but we have to get through this.”
He went on to say, “We are the worst team, maybe, in Manchester United’s history. I know this sounds dramatic, but it’s the truth, and we need to recognize it in order to change.”
Amorim’s remarks aren’t far from the truth. Since he took over, United has earned just 11 points from 33 available in the league, a form that puts them on course for their worst-ever Premier League finish. Currently, they are closer to the relegation zone than the top of the table, with their last relegation occurring in 1974.
When Ruben Amorim took the job at Manchester United last year, he was well aware of the club’s ongoing struggles, which have persisted since the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
The Portuguese manager, who had success with Sporting Clube de Portugal, wasted no time in implementing a new system aimed at bringing about a new era of success. However, despite some promising moments, the team has struggled with consistency, causing them to fall to new lows in the league.
What’s particularly frustrating for fans is that United’s players sometimes seem capable of performing well in certain games, but they have failed to maintain that level of play consistently throughout the season.
Before Christmas, Manchester United achieved some notable results, including a 2-1 win over local rivals Manchester City and a 2-2 draw with league leaders Liverpool. More recently, they triumphed over Arsenal in a penalty shootout in the FA Cup.
However, in between these positive performances, United suffered heavy defeats to teams like Bournemouth, Wolves, and Newcastle.
Amorim has acknowledged that the players are still adapting to his new system but remains firm in his approach, insisting that he won’t change his philosophy, even if it results in more losses in the short term. “I’m not going to change how I see the game. The players are going to suffer, the fans are going to suffer, I’m sorry,” he said.
Despite the rough patch, there is a glimmer of hope for United fans. The last time the club lost 10 of their first 22 league games was in the 1989-90 season, under a young Sir Alex Ferguson, who later went on to win 13 league titles with the club.
Amorim and his team will have an opportunity to turn their season around when they face Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday, followed by a Premier League match against Fulham on Sunday.