Ruben Amorim has admitted his players are "too anxious, too afraid," as the team’s poor form continues to weigh heavily on him and his squad.
Manchester United face league leaders Liverpool on Sunday (16:30 GMT) after enduring four consecutive defeats across all competitions, including three in the Premier League.
Since Amorim’s appointment in November, United have won just two league matches and currently sit only seven points above the relegation zone.
"You can see it in my face—compare how I looked when I arrived to how I look now," said Amorim, who has lost five of his eight Premier League games in charge.
"There’s a lot of pressure. For me, it’s about pride and performance. It’s harder when we don’t perform well."
The recent festive period proved disastrous for United, with a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth, a 2-0 defeat at Wolves, and another 2-0 home loss to Newcastle within eight days.
These setbacks marked one of United's worst runs in decades. The club has not endured four consecutive league defeats in a single season since 1979 and has not suffered four straight losses without scoring since April 1909.
Amorim acknowledged his players’ struggles, saying, "They are anxious, sometimes afraid on the pitch. We have to cope with that."
On Friday, Amorim highlighted the need for strong leadership within the squad, singling out defender Harry Maguire for his resilience during challenging times.
"We need the leaders to step up and help the other guys. I am the most responsible person here to improve the performances," he said.
"The players are trying, but sometimes they’re too anxious, too afraid to play football. This is a difficult moment, and we will help them improve."
United’s upcoming trip to Anfield presents a daunting challenge. They are 23 points behind Liverpool, having played one game more.
United have not won at Anfield since January 2016, when Wayne Rooney scored the winner. Additionally, they have failed to score in their last five visits, with their most recent goal at the venue coming in December 2018.
Despite the bleak outlook, Amorim remains optimistic about the future. "I will do my best," he said. "I am giving everything to help the club, and we are going to succeed. I know it’s hard to see that in this moment, but we will succeed."
