Rúben Amorim has issued a warning to his Manchester United squad as they prepare to face Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Manchester United are set to face Sunderland at Old Trafford before the October international break, their first meeting since April 2017.
Rúben Amorim’s opening to the season has been disappointing, with United winning just two of their first six league fixtures and currently sitting 14th, one place better than last year’s 15th-place finish.
In contrast, Sunderland have made an excellent start on their Premier League return. Régis Le Bris’ side sit fifth in the table with 11 points from six matches.
A 3-1 defeat away to Brentford has only heightened the pressure on Amorim, who is fighting to steady results and ease concerns over his future at United.
United injury news amid Amorim’s warning
United have had a couple of injury problems since the start of the season, with Matheus Cunha, Diogo Dalot, and Noussair Mazraoui having missed a few of the seven ties so far.
Amorim confirmed last week that the latter was out injured and would not return until after the upcoming international break, while Lisandro Martínez is still a few weeks away from a return following an ACL injury in February.
Amad has returned after missing the Brentford tie due to compassionate leave, while Tyrell Malacia is back with the first-team squad after failing to find a route out of Old Trafford last summer.
Speaking in his press conference on Friday afternoon, the head coach also warned his players that Sunderland will be confident heading into the tie due to the pressure their opponents are under.
“It’s going to be a really tough match; they are doing really well. It’s a team that plays really well, with a clear system, 4-3-3 with a lot of rotations on the side of the pitch,” Amorim said.
“They will be confident and know we are under pressure. We need to be prepared for that. It will be a tough match.”
Amorim not in danger regardless of Sunderland result
After just two wins in six Premier League fixtures, Amorim is under intense pressure at Old Trafford, with pundits and fans alike having the growing sense that it’s just a matter of time until he’s replaced as United’s head coach.
However, according to The Athletic’s United correspondent Laurie Whitwell, there is more of an impression inside the club that United co-owner and shot caller, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, would rather give the first-team boss a full season in charge.
“I still think, from speaking to people, even if Manchester United lost to Sunderland, I don’t think that would be the end for Ruben Amorim, speaking to people this week and getting the same kind of information,” Whitwell said on the latest episode of the Talk of the Devils podcast.
“Sir Jim Ratcliffe is the ultimate decision maker on this. He would take recommendations from Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada, the Glazers have a voice on this, but Ratcliffe is the one to decide on this, and he, I’m told, wants to actually give Amorim the full season.”
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