Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd are woeful at home. (Image: GETTY)
Ruben Amorim continued to smash unwanted records across his turbulent start as Manchester United’s head coach with a dismal Premier League defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday. Jean-Philippe Mateta scored a brace in Palace’s 2-0 win on a day when the hosts didn’t include a recognised striker in their team.
United, slumped 13th after 24 matches, have lost five of their last six league games at Old Trafford. Since the start of last season, only Wolves (16) have lost at home more than the Red Devils (13).
Erik ten Hag and Amorim have overseen seven defeats in 13 home league games this term, the club’s most at this stage of a campaign since 1893/94 (also seven).
But perhaps the most damning statistic for Amorim is his early record at the Theatre of Dreams compared to his predecessors.
Sunday’s loss against Palace was the Portuguese tactician’s fifth on home turf in the Premier League since replacing Ten Hag in November.
He needed just seven games to reach that tally, with a 4-0 win against Everton and a 3-1 comeback victory over Southampton as the exceptions.
In comparison, David Moyes suffered his fifth such defeat in his 14th game. It took Ten Hag 28 games, Louis van Gaal 30 and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 31.
Man Utd keep on losing home matches. (Image: Getty)
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Sir Alex Ferguson lost his fifth league home game in his 88th outing, while Jose Mourinho, incredibly, didn’t taste defeat five times at Old Trafford across his two-and-a-half years at the helm.
United are on a collision course for their worst-ever Premier League finish, having smashed the previous record last season by crashing to eighth.
The Red Devils look destined for a humiliating bottom-half finish, having failed to conjure up back-to-back league wins in their first 24 games.
Amorim is under pressure to get results, but there is an acceptance that he has inherited a squad of misfits that is the result of years of reckless recruitment.
Another home game, another defeat for Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford in the Premier League ??????
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst)
The 40-year-old will receive something of a free pass for the remainder of the season, but a second successive season outside of the Champions League would have damaging financial implications.
United have sanctioned loan exits for Antony and Marcus Rashford without recruiting attacking reinforcements to replace the duo.
The Red Devils are trying to add to Amorim’s firepower before the winter transfer deadline, but a move for top target Mathys Tel currently appears unlikely.
Bayern Munich are only prepared to offload the 19-year-old striker on a permanent deal or on loan with an obligation to buy.