Ruben Amorim would be forgiven for peering nervously at the chopping block after another abysmal weekend for Manchester United.
United slumped to a 3-0 beating by rivals Manchester City and while they created enough opportunities, they lacked the ruthlessness required to punish Pep Guardiola’s side.
The catastrophic fallout is a familiar story at Old Trafford and Amorim will want to change the tune fast with United floundering in 14th after four games.
Gary Neville warned that Amorim will be ‘in trouble’ if they remain in that region of the table going into October, with the Portuguese now 10 months into the job.
But the Manchester Evening News reports that Amorim retains the support of the club’s hierarchy.
That said, a source close to the Portuguese told the newspaper that it is ‘incredible’ he is not in jeopardy after picking up just 31 points after 31 Premier League games in charge, with 16 defeats along the way.
Ruben Amorim’s job is reportedly safe at Manchester United as the hierarchy still back him
It was another sobering weekend as United lost 3-0 to their rivals Manchester City
Sir Jim Ratcliffe could barely bring himself to watch as United lost a 16th time in 31 PL games
In bleak reading, United are already more likely to be relegated than return to the Champions League – at least in the eye’s of Opta’s supercomputer.
The computer has churned out a 10.95 per cent chance of United going down and given them just a 4.18 per chance possibility of qualifying for Europe’s top table.
They’re already four points adrift of fifth-placed Chelsea and that gap could turn into a chasm if they lose at Stamford Bridge next Saturday.
Their away form gives a foreboding prophecy as United have only picked up 14 points after 16 games on the road under Amorim.
But Amorim is not one for panicking. He has stuck rigidly by his 3-4-3 system and insists he will not abandon it.
‘I won’t change my philosophy,’ Amorim said after defeat. ‘If they [United chiefs] want it changed, you change the man.
‘I am not going to change my philosophy. I will play my way until I want to change. Guys, I understand [the questions] and I accept it is not a record you should have at Man United. But there are a lot of things that you have no idea about what happen in the last months.
‘I understand everything. It is normal [if fans are losing faith], but I don’t accept that we are not doing better. We are doing better and the results don’t show that, the record says everything, I understand.’
Erling Haaland scored twice while Phil Foden chipped in to get City back to winning ways
It is ‘incredible’ that Amorim is not under threat, a friend told the Manchester Evening News
As has become his custom, Amorim was quick to throw himself under the bus and shoulder the burden of criticism for the loss.
‘I didn’t see one player in my team not giving the maximum. The rest is with me,’ he said.
‘The disappointment sometimes I feel we could run more, but I didn’t have that feeling today.
‘It’s my fault, not their fault, and I am fine with that.’
Despite the MEN’s report over Amorim’s security, United head honcho Sir Jim Ratcliffe looked weary in the stands on Sunday, rubbing his face.
United sanctioned a £236million summer spend and while Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have made impactful starts, new striker Benjamin Sesko has struggled.
The Slovenian had just 20 touches at the Etihad – none in the opposition box – and managed one shot. The £73.7m man is still searching for his first goal.
Meanwhile, new goalkeeping recruit Senne Lammens was left on the bench in favour of Altay Bayindir, who has failed to convince so far.
