Manchester United's hierarchy is grappling with the club's tumultuous start to the season, as co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently flew into Manchester to hold critical talks with head coach Ruben Amorim. These meetings, which were reportedly pre-planned, took place at the club's Carrington training ground amidst a period of intense scrutiny over Amorim's performance in the Old Trafford hotseat.

Amorim has endured a shockingly poor start to the current campaign, with his side securing just one victory in their opening five matches. This solitary win came courtesy of a dramatic 97th-minute penalty against relegation-favourites Burnley at home. The team's struggles have been further highlighted by an embarrassing defeat to League Two side Grimsby in the Carabao Cup and a significant battering by local rivals Manchester City, resulting in a 3-0 loss.

The pressure on Amorim is underscored by stark statistics. His tenure at Manchester United now records the worst win percentage of any manager to have taken charge of 25 or more games in the past 80 years, standing at a paltry 36.2 percent. This figure pales in comparison to his predecessor, Erik ten Hag, who boasted a 54.7 percent win rate, and even David Moyes, who managed 52.9 percent before his dismissal in his first season.

Beyond internal comparisons, Amorim's performance against current Premier League rivals is equally concerning. Since his arrival last November, Manchester United under Amorim have accumulated a dismal record, picking up only 31 points from 31 games, including a mere eight wins. This places them at the bottom of the table among the 17 ever-present Premier League clubs. The current season shows no immediate signs of improvement, with only four points from their opening four Premier League games, marking the club's worst start to a league campaign since 1992-93, despite a significant investment of over £200 million in new players.

Despite the mounting pressure and poor results, Ruben Amorim remains steadfast in his tactical approach, insisting he will not deviate from his preferred 3-4-3 formation. Following the defeat to Manchester City, Amorim publicly stated, "It is not a record we should have at Manchester United. I accept that but I am not going to change. When I want to change my philosophy I will change but, if not, you have to change the man. We will talk about that every game we lose. I have played my way and I am going to play my way until I want to change."

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, while engaging in talks, has reportedly maintained support for Amorim. He claimed in March that he "really, really likes him," describing Amorim as a "very thoughtful guy." Ratcliffe has been quoted expressing a direct and informal relationship with the manager, stating, "Every time I go to the training ground, I speak to Ruben. I sit down and have a cup of coffee with him and tell him where it’s going wrong, and he tells me to f*** off. I like him.” While sources close to Ratcliffe cite "massively improved data" as a reason for their continued belief, others contend that statistics mask a chronic underperformance.

Privately, the club has dismissed reports suggesting Amorim has a three-game ultimatum to save his job. However, it is widely understood that upcoming fixtures against Chelsea, Brentford, and Sunderland before the October international break will severely test the club's faith in the 40-year-old manager. While Ratcliffe did not attend the women's team's Champions League qualification match with chief executive Omar Berrada, his presence at Carrington signifies the critical importance of his discussions with Amorim as the club navigates this challenging period.