Ruben Amorim made a costly error against West Ham. (Image: Getty)
Before Manchester United suffered the nadir of their post-Sir Alex Ferguson decline this season, the club sitting in 16th place with two Premier League games left was unimaginable. Even more inconceivable is the fact that the head coach who has overseen 13 defeats and just six wins in 25 games to slip into the position remains a popular figure.
Ruben Amorim is strongly backed by the Stretford End every time United are in action at Old Trafford, as proven by the lyrics to his chant that he will insist he doesn’t deserve. The audible notion is the same throughout away games, despite supporters only watching three league victories on the road since his arrival, the same total as on home turf.
Imagine if INEOS’ first managerial appointment wasn’t as glamorous as one of the world’s most exciting young coaches?
Imagine if there was truth to the murmurs that Sir Jim Ratcliffe was keen on former England manager Gareth Southgate?
The current defiant atmosphere, fuelled by the hope that Amorim will replicate his Sporting rebuild at United, likely would have already surrendered to toxicity.
This reporter, and suffering season ticket holder at Old Trafford, has ridden that wave of optimism since the 40-year-old’s arrival.
Erik ten Hag’s era became so bleak, barring the unforgettable trophy lifts to paper over the cracks, that a thirst for a new direction took over.
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There is little appetite for another change so soon, though, which has made it easy to offer Amorim full backing across seven troublesome months.
Surely it’s as simple as United will start playing better football when Amorim has more footballers that suit his 3-4-3 style of play, right?
He should have a new-look team at his disposal after his first summer transfer window at the helm, and the project will finally set sail in October, right?
That hope remains, but on Sunday, for the first time since he took charge, I trundled away from Old Trafford questioning whether Amorim has it in him.
It wasn’t the result that did it. The damning reality is that United supporters don’t expect to see their team win when they attend Premier League games anymore.
Leny Yoro looked devastated as he went off. (Image: Getty)
It was his team selection. No injury is a head coach’s fault, but starting a player of Leny Yoro’s importance in a match that carried so little made no sense whatsoever.
United, unbelievably, can still salvage their season by beating Tottenham Hotspur to lift the Europa League on May 21.
Should the Red Devils clinch a third trophy in as many years in Bilbao, Champions League football awaits next term.
With that, Amorim’s transfer budget would significantly grow, as would the allure of Old Trafford to Europe’s elite players.
He jeopardised United’s chances against West Ham United, though. Worryingly, it came weeks after he publicly admitted his side would have to suffer domestically to focus on the Europa League.
Amorim’s hypocrisy struck many when his lineup emerged, and Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro, and Bruno Fernandes were among those included.
Mazraoui, described as “dead” by his coach in recent weeks, looked exactly that as the Hammers triumphed 2-0.
Fernandes would play every minute of every game if he were allowed to, but it only takes one freak injury.
Yoro has already shown glimpses of world-class potential and has developed into one of the first names on Amorim’s teamsheet.
United, regrettably, look to have paid the price for his questionable inclusion three days after that emotionally-charged Europa League win against Athletic Club.
Yoro appeared devastated as he limped down the tunnel. Amorim seemed equally concerned, but starting the 19-year-old when Victor Lindelof and Tyler Fredricson were on the bench was a bad mistake.
This is Manchester United, and despite the club’s crisis, they can’t start throwing matches. No one is asking Amorim to do that.
But Friday’s trip to Chelsea, four days before the Europa League final, had to be the logical opportunity to top up minutes and ensure his best players were at optimum sharpness.
Luke Shaw, Amad and Mason Mount’s involvement against West Ham were acceptable, given the trio’s need to get more minutes in their legs.
Yoro’s was not, and now United are at risk of returning to the Basque Country without their most in-form defender.
Ruben Amorim’s reaction said it all. (Image: Getty)
Amorim claimed after full-time that it “doesn’t matter” whether the M16 giants are in the Champions League next season or not.
He is correct in thinking there are bigger issues to solve within the walls of Old Trafford that can’t be hidden by cup wins, a different stance than his predecessor’s.
But no coach is going to receive the time they need to reverse a club’s fortunes if results continue in the same vein.
And defeat in the Europa League final, handing Spurs their first major trophy since 2008, would intensify pressure on Amorim and further damage his credentials.
The outcome of that match might not matter to Amorim, but it does to the masses still singing his name.