Club chiefs back Amorim despite United’s dire start, citing hidden signs of progress

Manchester United are standing firmly behind Ruben Amorim despite their worst start to a Premier League season in 33 years. The Portuguese coach, under intense scrutiny after a humiliating 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad, retains the trust of the Old Trafford hierarchy, who argue that data shows progress behind the disappointing results.

United’s opening four league games have delivered just four points, leaving them languishing in the bottom half of the table and reigniting memories of last season’s disastrous 15th-place finish. Their shock Carabao Cup exit to League Two Grimsby Town compounded the sense of crisis, prompting pundits such as Gary Neville to warn that Amorim’s job could be on the line if defeat to Chelsea follows this weekend.

Yet senior figures at the club remain convinced the manager is laying foundations for improvement. They point to statistical metrics such as chance creation, pressing efficiency and defensive organisation, which, according to their analysis, have all improved compared with the same stage last season. While goals have been scarce and costly mistakes continue to haunt the side, executives believe those underlying numbers suggest a turnaround is achievable if patience is maintained.

Amorim, 40, has made no secret of his frustration at the narrative surrounding his tenure. He has repeatedly stressed that his philosophy—grounded in tactical flexibility and dynamic pressing—requires time to bed in. The arrival of Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens on deadline day, alongside earlier summer recruits, was described by the manager as part of a long-term rebuild rather than a quick fix. Insiders say the board shares this perspective and accepts that consistency will not come overnight.

The defeat at the Etihad intensified outside criticism, with City exploiting familiar weaknesses in transition and ruthlessly punishing United’s defensive lapses. For many supporters, the manner of the loss, as much as the result itself, raised questions about the direction of the team. Social media amplified calls for change, but the message from Carrington and Old Trafford remains one of calm. The club believes the process under Amorim is measurable and visible, even if the table currently suggests otherwise.

Key to the board’s stance is a belief that frequent managerial upheaval has itself contributed to years of underachievement. Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, United have cycled through managers at an alarming rate, with little stability and few tangible gains. By contrast, the hierarchy see Amorim as a coach capable of building a modern footballing identity, provided he is given the runway to do so.

The match against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Saturday is nevertheless being framed as pivotal. A defeat could leave United in 15th or 16th place heading into October, an outcome that would test even the most patient directors. Neville’s warning that “big questions” will be asked if results do not improve reflects a wider concern: no matter how positive the analytics look, Premier League football is judged on points, not process.

Still, those close to Amorim insist he has not lost the dressing room. Senior players reportedly back his methods, with training described as more intense and tactically coherent than in previous regimes. The emphasis now, insiders say, is on cutting out unforced errors and ensuring that United’s improved build-up play translates into goals.

For now, the club has chosen stability. Whether results will catch up with the data—and whether Amorim’s philosophy will survive the unforgiving pressure of the Premier League—remains the defining question of Manchester United’s season