Amorim's worry about Man Utd fans when they take on Newcastle

Ruben Amorim is no fool—he understands the charged atmosphere at Old Trafford.

His last visit to the Theatre of Dreams as an opposition coach gave him an unsettling preview of Manchester United's state of disrepair, with even the roof leaking during his post-match press conference.

Now, as United's head coach, Amorim faces a club in chaos and fans who, as he put it, are “tired” of the ongoing shambles.

Amorim’s tenure has barely begun, just over a month in, but the 2-0 Boxing Day defeat to Wolves marked his fifth loss in seven games since replacing Erik ten Hag.

Up next is an even tougher challenge: an in-form Newcastle United, riding a wave of four straight wins.

Despite the challenges, the 39-year-old Portuguese coach, under contract until 2027, remains determined to take the long view.

Yet, the toxic environment and the team’s noticeable regression have made his early tenure far from smooth.

Reflecting on the Wolves defeat and the subsequent 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth—during which the roof infamously began leaking—Amorim acknowledged the struggles.

“We have to fight against everything because our supporters are always there, but they are tired of this moment,” he said. “It’s part of football to have these difficult moments. I already knew that it was going to be tough.

“You expect to win more games, to have players with more confidence to sell the idea and to work and improve things.

"At this moment, it’s really hard. We have to survive to have time and then to improve the team.”

Amorim also addressed the pressure his players face, especially against Newcastle.

“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,” he admitted.

“It’s a very strong team with a lot of pace, with a lot of time working with the same coach. We want to be competitive and try to win the game, that’s all.”

Many argue that this is Manchester United’s worst team in half a century—a damning indictment given the club’s extravagant spending in recent seasons.

Yet, it’s not just about the lack of quality. The current side lacks belief, energy, and unpredictability.

United could beat Newcastle, but given their inconsistency, it wouldn’t be shocking if they suffered a heavy defeat instead.

After the Wolves game, Amorim confessed United are in “survival mode” as they sit 14th in the Premier League, just eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Adding to Amorim’s headaches is United’s vulnerability at set-pieces. They’ve conceded 10 goals from dead-ball situations this season, half of them under Amorim.

Wolves’ Matheus Cunha scored directly from a corner, just a week after Tottenham’s Son Heung-min did the same to Altay Bayindir in the Carabao Cup.

Amorim admitted the issue: “Set-pieces are becoming so important. We have to learn, even with the small guys.”

Despite their struggles, Amorim refuses to ask more of United’s famously loyal fans.

“I would not dare to ask anything of our fans,” he said. “They give us everything: a full stadium, they’re always supporting, clapping loss after loss.

"I just want to give something to the fans, not ask something of them.”

United will also be without captain Bruno Fernandes after his red card against Wolves. While Fernandes has previously had red cards overturned, his disciplinary record remains an issue.

Asked about the possibility of reinstating former captain Harry Maguire, Amorim responded diplomatically: “He will have to wait until the game.

"He works really well. He’s focused on the job, not what people say. He does not make excuses, even if he had some tough moments.

“I think in that department, he is an example. He’s there to play and help the team, and he’s trying to do that.”