"Ruben Amorim, like those before him, blinks in the glare of the endless fascination with Manchester United's leading man, and may wonder whether this is the impossible job. Three games into a first full campaign the 40-year-old seemed to believe so. The desultory 12-11 Carabao Cup penalty shootout defeat at Grimsby followed a 1-0 loss to Arsenal and 1-1 draw at Fulham. Three matches, zero wins, and the executioner's song began to wail for the Portuguese's job security."
"Especially when he said of the Grimsby result: This is a little bit the limit. Something has to change. At this moment, we need to focus on the weekend and then we have time to think. Then, the bombshell: I felt my players spoke really loud today about what they want. Reporters tapped up contacts, the pundit class speculated, United enthusiasts debated over pints and social media."
"A first United defeat by League Two opposition in the secondtier cup competition will always be a big deal. But zoom out a smidgeon and the wider picture in the bread and butter of the league was two matches played and a point taken (not great but also no seismic disaster) and United motor across town for Sunday's 197th derby with four points, one more than Pep Guardiola's garlanded Manchester City, who are winless since the opening day."
Ruben Amorim began his first full campaign with a Carabao Cup exit to Grimsby, a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal and a 1-1 draw at Fulham, leaving three matches without a win. He warned that something had to change and said his players had spoken loudly about what they want. Media, pundits and fans speculated about his future and whether players sought a new head coach. United then beat Burnley 3-2 and held four league points ahead of the derby with Manchester City. The league context makes an immediate dismissal unreasonable, but intense scrutiny and pressure persist.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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