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Amorim says Man United could be in relegation battle

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 Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim looks dejected after the match with Newcastle United

Ruben Amorim called it “embarrassing” as a Manchester United manager to be discussing the threat of relegation, but after Monday’s miserable 2-0 Premier League loss to Newcastle United he conceded that is the reality his team are facing.

Newcastle’s Alexander Isak and Joelinton headed early goals to hand Amorim’s team their fifth loss in their last six league games. They go into the new year 14th in the table, much closer to the relegation zone than the Champions League positions.

“I think (relegation) is a possibility and we have to be clear with our fans. We have to change something but this season will be really hard on everybody. It can make us stronger and we have to fight,” Amorim said.

“It’s also my fault in this moment, because I think the team is not improved, I think it is a little bit lost in this moment. So it’s a little bit embarrassing to be much as United coach and to lose a lot of games. But we have to cope with that, difficult moments in the life of everybody. So it’s a hard moment.”

Amorim has had anything but a dream start to his United career, suffering five defeats in his first eight league games — the worst record for a Manchester United manager in 103 years.

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“Worrying times for Manchester United and Ruben Amorim,” former United defender Gary Neville said on Sky Sports. “He came in as a young manager and knew it was going to be a big job, but it is far bigger than he could have ever imagined.”

Neville called United “the worst pound for pound team in the country.”

There have been questions over Amorim’s commitment to his tactical 3-4-3 approach, and there were even more after Monday’s loss. The defensive issues that plagued former manager Erik ten Hag have haunted Amorim as well, with both goals on Monday coming largely thanks to blunders in the back line.

“Of course, I didn’t choose the players specifically for that position, but that I already knew,” Amorim said, when asked if he has the talent to play his formation. “I have to sell my idea, if I’m going to change all the time it is going to be even worse.

“But I understand that they have a lot of difficulties, because they spend two years playing one way, and then they are playing another, and with a lot of losses, is really tough on them, and you can feel it during the game.

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“I have to sell my idea. I don’t have another one.”

One of the game’s ugliest moments came when Amorim took struggling Joshua Zirkzee off in the 33rd minute to boos from the Old Trafford crowd.

-Reuters

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Premier League

Man City beat lowly Leicester for first win in five league games

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Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates scoring their second goal with Kyle Walker REUTERS/Dylan Martinez 

Savinho and Erling Haaland scored to give Manchester City a much-needed 2-0 victory, in manager Pep Guardiola’s 500th game in charge, over Leicester City at King Power Stadium on Sunday, the champions’ first win in five Premier League games.

City’s second win in 14 games across all competitions meant they climbed two spots to fifth place in the standings with 31 points, 11 behind leaders Liverpool who have two games in hand. Leicester remain in the danger zone in 18th place.

Savinho netted his first goal for City in the 21st minute when he pounced on a rebound from Phil Foden’s long shot after Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk pushed the ball into his path. The Brazilian fired into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

Haaland, who has just two goals in eight league games in his worst stretch of his Premier League career, doubled City’s lead in the 74th minute when he headed home a looping cross from Savinho, who latched onto a pass from Kevin de Bruyne.

Their victory was far from a walkover, however.

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Leicester fans screamed for a penalty early on when Jamie Vardy found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Stefan Ortega from a counter-attack. Ortega brought Vardy down in the box but Man City were saved by the offside flag.

Josko Gvardiol nearly cost Guardiola’s team a first-half goal with a disastrous header back to Ortega that was intercepted. City’s disorganised back line saw Facundo Buonanotte clatter a shot off the bar minutes later.

Leicester had another glorious chance early in the second half when Vardy headed into the box and James Justin got a touch on it that looked headed into the back of the net before Manuel Akanji cleared it off the line.

-Reuters

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Amorim knows he can never be ‘comfortable’ as Man Utd boss

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Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim said he will never be “comfortable” in the role and that his job could be in danger if he does not deliver, despite the club paying a hefty sum to release him from Portuguese side Sporting last month.

United have lost five of their last seven games in all competitions and sit 14th in the Premier League, where they are closer to the relegation zone than Champions League places.

United paid an 11 million euro ($11.48 million) release fee to bring in Amorim and the team showed initial promise, including a famous win over fellow strugglers Manchester City.

But the team crashed out of the League Cup, while Thursday’s defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers — their fourth loss in five league games — has left Amorim’s side 11 points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand.

“The manager of Manchester United can never, no matter what, be comfortable,” Amorim told reporters.

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“I know that if we don’t win, regardless of if they paid the buyout (clause to sign me) or not, I know that every manager is in danger and I like that.

“I like that because that is the job. You can argue that I have been here one month and I’ve had four training (sessions), but we are not winning. That is the reality and I’m quite comfortable with that.”

Amorim admitted United’s fans have grown weary with their run of poor results and their task does not get any easier with Monday’s home game against Newcastle United.

Eddie Howe’s side have moved up to fifth on the back of three straight league victories, while United are without their captain Bruno Fernandes, who was sent off at Wolves.

“We have to expect that any play from Newcastle near our box is going to make the stadium nervous and our players have to cope with that,” Amorim said.

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“We want to be competitive and try to win the game … I just want to give something to the fans,” he added.

-Reuters

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Man City in danger of missing Champions League, says Guardiola

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 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/ File Photo

Manchester City are at risk of missing out on next season’s Champions League due to their recent dip in form, manager Pep Guardiola said.

City, who are looking to qualify for Europe’s top club competition for a 15th straight season, have won just one of their last eight Premier League games and are seventh, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool.

Guardiola’s side are four points behind Nottingham Forest, who occupy the fourth and final Champions League qualification berth.

“When I said before, people laughed. They said, ‘qualifying for the Champions League is not a big success’. But I know it because it happens with clubs in this country,” Guardiola told reporters ahead of their home match against Everton.

“They were dominant for many years and after they were many years not qualifying for the Champions League. The one team that has been in the Champions League for the past years has been Manchester City. Now we are at risk, of course we are.”

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After hosting Everton later on Thursday City travel to face Leicester City on Dec. 29.

-Reuters

 Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

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