The air around Old Trafford often feels thick with expectation, a heavy cloak woven from decades of glory. Right now, for Ruben Amorim, it probably feels more like a straitjacket. Another weekend passed, another chance for a much-needed victory slipped away. Sunday saw his Manchester United side battle to a 1-1 draw against Marco Silva’s Fulham on the road. That match, the 29th he has overseen in the Premier League, brought a stark and unwanted milestone.
Last season was truly one to forget for the Red Devils. Finishing 15th in the league table marked the club’s absolute lowest point in the Premier League era. Fans were desperate for a fresh start, looking with eager eyes toward the new campaign. Yet, just two games in, the early signs are not good. Manchester United hosted Arsenal, losing that one, and then faced Fulham, ending in a draw. No wins to show for it yet. This recent result, the tie with the Cottagers, pushed Amorim to a number he surely wishes he hadn’t reached.
The former manager of Sp. Braga and Sporting now has 28 points under his belt in the English top flight with Manchester United. Do the math, and you’ll see a troubling fact: he has fewer points than games managed. Across those 29 Premier League matches, Amorim’s team has managed only seven wins, alongside seven draws and a hefty 15 defeats. While the players speak with hopeful words, the cold, hard numbers continue to paint a grim picture for the Portuguese coach. He still has two more years on his contract with the Red Devils, running until June 2027. But in football, especially at a club like United, numbers often speak louder than any contract.