With his team one win from a European trophy and a place in the UEFA Champions League, Ruben Amorim cut a frustrated figure after Manchester United lost 2-0 at home to West Ham United, seemingly suggesting he may have to leave the club if he cannot turn around their poor performances in the Premier League.
The defeat by West Ham was United’s 17th in the league this season, extending a winless run of seven matches in the competition, and with their only victories since late January coming against relegated Leicester City and Ipswich Town. It has left them 16th in the table with only 39 points.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 |
Everton
EVE
|
36 | -5 | 42 |
| 14 |
Wolves
WOL
|
36 | -13 | 41 |
| 15 |
West Ham
WHU
|
36 | -17 | 40 |
| 16 |
Man Utd
MUN
|
36 | -11 | 39 |
| 17 |
Spurs
TOT
|
36 | +4 | 38 |
| 18 |
Ipswich
IPS
|
36 | -42 | 22 |
When he was asked what he thought when he looked at the Premier League table, Amorim said: "How is a manager of Manchester United supposed to feel in that position? Embarrassed."
He added: "So it's a big problem that we have here at the club. It's a decisive moment in the history of the club. We need to address that.
"It's a big problem because it's mentally. We are not scared of losing a game as Manchester United. We don't have that fear any more and that is the most dangerous thing that a big club can have.
"It's not the players’ fault. It's my fault, I'm responsible. If we cannot change that really fast we should give our place to different people.”
Amorim warned that the club should not let the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur on 21 May distract from the problems he faces, which he believes are bigger than getting back into the Champions League, their achievement if they win the final.
"Everybody is focused on the final,” he added. “The final is not the biggest thing in our football club. We need to change a lot of things. If we don't change the way we play and perform and feel this urgency of winning every game, we should not play in the Champions League.
“We should just stay in the Premier League and learn how to be competitive one week at a time.
"The biggest focus on our football club is to change a lot of things. It's not just the final."
