Amorim ‘can’t run away from Man Utd results’

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim admits he cannot hide from his dire record and it is ‘normal’ that Old Trafford legends criticise him.

On Tuesday, United’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney told his BBC podcast “the soul has gone” from his old club.

Amorim has won just 18 matches of his 49 games in charge, including nine out of 33 in the Premier League, where he has yet to win two successive matches.

Although senior Old Trafford sources are adamant Sir Jim Ratcliffe remains supportive of Amorim, failure to beat newly promoted Sunderland on Saturday will bring a fresh round of speculation over his future heading into another two-week international break.

“It is normal,” said the Portuguese, when asked about Rooney’s comments. “You can’t run away from the results.

“Then you have the baggage from last season, [although] last season for me doesn’t matter.”

United’s supporters remained behind Amorim following last season’s dismal fare, when they finished 15th in the table – their worst performance since the 1973-74 relegation campaign – and were beaten in the Europa League final, in the belief and hope this season would be substantially better.

Amorim assured fans the situation would improve because he had more time to work with his players without the midweek distraction of European football.

That is not how the first six games have materialised as United have suffered three defeats already and find themselves 14th in the table.

When asked what assurances he could offer supporters that the situation will improve, Amorim added: “It’s not the time to say, it is the time to show.