Manchester United's leadership has made the controversial decision to continue their backing of head coach Ruben Amorim, despite a recent 3-0 defeat in the Manchester derby and an earlier historic exit from the League Cup against fourth-tier Grimsby. This period marks the club's worst start to a league season since 1992, with Amorim himself holding the unfortunate distinction of having the worst win rate of any United manager since World War Two.

The Portuguese tactician, who is 40 years old, took over the United team in the 12th round of the 2024/2025 Premier League season. Under his guidance, the team managed a meagre 27 points from 26 matches, averaging just 1.038 points per game. This culminated in their worst Premier League finish in 35 years, ending the season in 15th place with 42 points. The 2025/2026 season has not seen an improvement, with the significant derby loss to Manchester City adding to the pressure.

Despite these alarming results, the club's hierarchy maintains faith, citing underlying numbers that suggest a positive shift in the team's attacking dynamics. Last season, Manchester United's attacking record in the Premier League was notably poor, ranking in the bottom half for critical metrics such as shots on target, goals, shot conversion, and expected goals. They were also only eighth for touches in the opposition box and passes played into the box, and sixth for total shots.

However, this season has seen a dramatic improvement in these attacking departments relative to their rivals. United now rank top in the league for total shots and touches in the opposition box. They are also second for expected goals, fourth for shots on target, and fifth for passes into the box. These statistical improvements are a key reason for the club's continued support for Amorim, despite some reports of players losing faith in his persistent 3-4-3 formation.

While the attacking metrics have improved, work is still needed to translate this into goals and a higher shot conversion rate. The current shot conversion rate of just 5.7 per cent is a significant factor in why United are not securing wins. Amorim remains steadfast in his tactical philosophy, stating, “I will not change my philosophy. I will continue with my ideas… if not, you have to change, change the man,” as quoted by Fabrizio Romano. Inside sources suggest the club believes the team has been on the wrong end of “fine margins” at the start of the campaign.

Currently sitting 14th in the Premier League with just four points from four games (one win, one draw, two defeats), Manchester United is preparing to host Chelsea at Old Trafford on Saturday. Chelsea, positioned fifth in the league, will be fresh from their mid-week UEFA Champions League engagement against Bayern Munich. The upcoming match could be a true grudge match, particularly with the anticipated return of former United star Alejandro Garnacho, who faced criticism after a mistake against Brentford cost Chelsea a win last weekend.