Man Utd 0-2 Newcastle: Ruben Amorim’s issues deepen as Alexander Isak and Joelinton objectives sink hosts

Newcastle moved as much as fifth with a 2-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford as Ruben Amorim’s aspect misplaced their fourth consecutive recreation.

Alexander Isak and Joelinton headed the Magpies two up early on to go away the house crew is disarray, with Amorim substituting Joshua Zirkzee inside the primary half to jeers from his personal supporters.

It might have been extra for Newcastle, Isak having a purpose dominated out for offside and Sandro Tonali hanging a submit. There was one thing of a response within the second half with Harry Maguire heading towards the submit, nevertheless it was a deserved win for Eddie Howe’s crew.

Manchester United have now misplaced 5 of their final six Premier League video games and 4 in a row in all competitions, the final three coming with out even scoring. They stay 14th within the desk, now solely seven factors above the drop. Newcastle climb to fifth.

Man Utd’s droop in stats

• Manchester United have misplaced three consecutive residence league video games for the primary time since February 1979, whereas they’ve misplaced three consecutive Premier League video games inside the identical season for the primary time since December 2015 underneath Louis van Gaal.
• Manchester United misplaced six video games in all competitions in December, solely the third month during which they’ve misplaced six video games, after April 1926 (6) and September 1930 (7). They additionally conceded 18 objectives in December, their most in a single month since March 1964 (additionally 18).
• Manchester United will finish New Year’s Eve in 14th place within the Premier League, their lowest place on the flip of a yr within the league since 1989, once they ended that yr in fifteenth, ultimately ending thirteenth.
• Since Ruben Amorim’s first recreation in cost on November 24, solely Southampton (7) have misplaced extra video games in all competitions amongst Premier League golf equipment than Man Utd (6), whereas the Red Devils have shipped the joint-most objectives (21, degree with Spurs).

Amorim: Relegation threat ‘actually clear’

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim chatting with Sky Sports:

“That is actually clear [United are being dragged into a relegation battle] so we now have to struggle. It is a very tough second, one of many tougher moments within the historical past of Manchester United and we now have to deal with it with honesty.

“We have to fight in the next game.”

Asked whether or not he’ll change his system…

“Maybe, or you continue with your idea and they have to change the coach. It is a choice that everyone has to make in football. If I think this is the best thing for the team, I will continue to pass my message, easily.

“You can’t return. We’ve solely had 4 coaching classes all collectively. I’ll proceed to do my thought till the top.”

Asked about the decision to substitute Joshua Zirkzee in the first half…

“You have to consider the crew but in addition the participant, however the participant is struggling. I assumed the crew was struggling and we would have liked one other midfielder to have extra ball. It was actually powerful for me to try this, however I’ve spoken to Josh because it was essential to precise the message. For the crew, it was essential for Josh to exit.

“I know that Josh is a really good guy. When he went to the tunnel, I can understand that some guys can be in a bad way but he is a really good lad. It is life, and we will support Josh and continue. Newcastle were better than Manchester United, they weren’t better than Josh.”

Player of the match: Alexander Isak

Jamie Carragher talking about Alexander Isak on Monday Night Football:

“When he’s in position, sometimes with strikers, they can be a little bit sloppy or a little bit loose in possession. When you see him, he’s on the move, he’s moving with the ball, he’s not just standing in the box, waiting for the ball.

“He can play because the goal man, he can rating objectives, he could make runs in behind, I truly assume he might nearly play as a No. 10, he might most likely nearly play with one other striker, as he is bought the flexibility to really drop in and choose the ball.

“He’s just been a sensation, and there’s been a lot of great signings, we should say under Eddie Howe. He is the best striker in the Premier League right now. I don’t think it’s actually close right now, I think he’s the real standout.”

How lengthy can Man Utd go on like this?

“With bad results, it’s really difficult to sell an idea,” Amorim informed Sky Sports earlier than the sport. “I was hired because of that idea and in these difficult moments if you change your mind, it is the end for any coach.” But sticking with that concept brings issues too.

Manchester United had been a multitude from the outset towards Newcastle. Some of it’s right down to gamers bereft of confidence. The unhappy sight of Zirkzee being booed from the sphere earlier than the break was emblematic of a bunch of gamers who look sad of their work.

But a system is meant to make their jobs simpler not more durable and no matter your view of the standard of the squad inherited by Amorim it’s more and more tough to argue that this isn’t not less than a part of the issue. Too a lot of them look uncomfortable of their roles.

Diogo Dalot was stationed so excessive up the pitch for a lot of the sport that it could have been extra pure to have a left winger there reasonably than an erstwhile right-back. When he did get the ball he might solely shovel it inside reasonably than present any real width.

Noussair Mazraoui fared little higher on the opposite flank and Matthijs de Ligt doesn’t wish to be dragged into huge areas as he was by Alexander Isak. Lisandro Martinez is among the few this form is claimed to go well with and he endured a wretched night in crimson.

Amorim would little doubt have most popular to have come into this job final summer season or subsequent reasonably than be plunged right into a congested fixture checklist and requested to repair issues on the fly. But the hope would have been that he might muddle by way of and construct for subsequent season.

That stays the hope nevertheless it absolutely wants United to choose up or threat starting that rebuild on the again foot, being doubted even earlier than his first full season in cost. As he himself acknowledges, there’s an thought to promote – to the gamers, to the general public and to his bosses.

Amorim doesn’t want a trophy. A season out of Europe might even make issues less complicated. There isn’t any expectation United fireplace. Just perform. But a 3rd Premier League defeat in a row with out a lot as scoring a purpose is unacceptable even at this low ebb.

Story of the match in stats…

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