Manchester United are already more likely to get relegated than return to the Champions League, Opta’s supercomputer has said.
The Red Devils have once again had a tough start to the season, and sit 14th in the Premier League standings on the back of a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City in their local derby.
It comes after being knocked out of the Carabao Cup in the second round against League Two Grimsby Town and only winning one of their first four Premier League matches – a late 3-2 victory over Burnley last time out.
United already have a shortened season after missing out on European qualification last season, but now only have the league and FA Cup to focus on despite the season being less than a month old.
And it’s bleak reading from Opta’s supercomputer, too. The computer regularly calculates the possibility of teams finishing in different positions, and United are now officially more likely to go down than return to Europe’s top table.
They are given a 4.18 per cent change of reaching qualification for the Champions League and 10.95 per cent chance of going down – more than double.
Manchester United are now more likely to be relegated than return to the Champions League
United suffered a 3-0 derby defeat at the hands of local rivals Manchester City on Sunday
Ruben Amorim continues to struggle as manager of the club, but has promised not to change his philosophy despite calls for a different formation.
He has the third-lowest win rate in the history of Manchester United managers to have taken charge of more than 20 games at 26 per cent – and United are bottom of a metaphorical league table of ever-present Premier League teams since the Portuguese took over.
Given their chances of relegation, United could finish 13th if the numbers turn out to be true. It would be an improvement on last season’s 15th-place finish.
Amorim said after the game: ‘I understand everything. It is normal. The result, I accept that. I don’t see it that way, we are doing better than the results.
‘The record says everything. My message to fans: I will do everything. Always thinking about what is best for the club. Until I’m here, I’ll do my best. The rest is not my decision.
‘I’m suffering more [than the fans]. I accept, it is not a record you should have at Manchester United. There are a lot of things you have no idea what has happened.
‘But I am not going to change my philosophy. I play my way and I am going to play my way.’
United will host Chelsea next weekend as they look to return to winning ways.
Amorim’s side are 14th in the table and already have no Europe to contend with this term
In terms of other sides, Liverpool are favourites to be champions, given 51.12 per cent chance of retaining their title. Arsenal are just behind them on 26.74 per cent.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, are the most likely to finish in the Champions League qualification spaces outside of last year’s top four. They are given 23.66 per cent chance of doing so – just ahead of Newcastle at 23.16 per cent.
The three sides most likely to get relegated are Burnley (52.23 per cent), Wolves (50.76 per cent) and Sunderland (46.02 per cent).
