Belief in Amorim remains at Man Utd - but for how long?

In the weeks, days and hours earlier Manchester United faced Tottenham successful the Europa League final, the messaging from wrong Old Trafford was consistent: Win oregon lose, the nine would beryllium sticking with Ruben Amorim.

They hoped they would not beryllium pushed to marque that backstage presumption public.

But that is precisely what Amorim did with a punchy declaration astatine the extremity of his post-match property league pursuing the 1-0 decision successful Bilbao.

Amorim had begun his post-match appraisal with a elemental statement: "I americium not going to speech astir the future."

But helium ended up doing precisely that aft being asked what words of comfortableness helium could connection supporters aft specified a hopeless season.

"I person thing to amusement to the fans," helium said. "So, successful this infinitesimal it is simply a small spot of faith.

"Let's see. I americium ever open. If the committee and fans consciousness I americium not the close guy, I volition spell successful the adjacent time without immoderate speech astir compensation.

"But I volition not quit. I americium truly assured successful my job. And arsenic you see, I volition not alteration thing successful the mode I bash things."

This from the antheral main enforcement Omar Berrada pushed to permission Sporting successful mid-season specifically due to the fact that helium felt United would beryllium amended placed to onslaught the summertime if the manager had a accidental to decently measure his squad.

The archetypal absorption from those who substance astatine Old Trafford erstwhile they heard what Amorim had said was elemental - the sentiments expressed successful the build-up to the crippled astir backing Amorim inactive stood.

And the content of those moving the nine is that they are successful tune with supporters who they expect to beryllium singing Amorim's sanction adjacent much powerfully connected Sunday erstwhile they look an Aston Villa broadside who, dissimilar them, inactive harbour hopes of playing successful the Champions League adjacent season.

Amorim spoke of United having had "two plans" with which to onslaught the transportation marketplace this summer.

Well, the astir costly of those tin present beryllium thrown successful the bin.

There is to beryllium nary £100m windfall to easiness the symptom of a staggeringly atrocious season. For lone the 2nd clip since English clubs returned to the European signifier successful 1990, determination volition beryllium nary continental run to plan, nary apical array combat with which to entice imaginable targets.

If Sir Jim Ratcliffe was focused connected his cost-cutting before, present expenditure volition beryllium assessed with adjacent much vigour.

Interest successful Wolves guardant Matheus Cunha is high. He would astatine slightest bring a past of scoring goals successful the Premier League.

Only skipper Bruno Fernandes of the contiguous squad has that and uncovering a goalscorer has to beryllium a precedence aft the decision successful Bilbao. For the 15th clip this season, oregon the 11th clip successful the past 33 games, oregon the 3rd clip successful a enactment - instrumentality your prime - United failed to find the net.

"It was wide we were the amended team, past we managed not to people again," said Amorim.

"There were immoderate occasions this play wherever we didn't make situations. This was not 1 of them.

"It is not 1 guy. It is antithetic players."

Last week, erstwhile Amorim said "we person to beryllium brave", helium meant the full club.

But what are the specifics?

Rasmus Hojlund has been described arsenic "a Championship player" by idiosyncratic who was portion of the dressing country during Sir Alex Ferguson's second days. It is simply a brutal takedown. But that doesn't needfully mean it is wrong.

Mason Mount spoke eloquently successful the build-up to the crippled but was anonymous successful bluish Spain. Amad Diallo threatened but his extremity merchandise was lacking. There was a immense portion of luck for Tottenham's winner. But, erstwhile they had the lead, they ne'er genuinely looked similar losing it.

"I americium ever honorable with you guys," said Amorim. "Tonight, we request to woody with symptom of losing this match."

His archetypal task is Sunday's gathering with Champions League-chasing Aston Villa and then, aft that, 2 matches successful Asia - to make astir £10m successful income - which United's players couldn't beryllium looking guardant to immoderate less.

Leading instrumentality groups threatened to protestation astir the Villa crippled good earlier this latest assemblage stroke to nine morale.

Amorim indispensable get his players to enactment connected a agreed front, visually and emotionally.

It was noticeable that arsenic Tottenham celebrated their victory, United's players, astir to a man, were unsocial with their thoughts.

Andre Onana sat successful his punishment area, Harry Maguire was further upfield, Alejandro Garnacho was inconsolable adjacent to the halfway line.

Amorim was pacing up and down, arsenic helium does, looking astatine the ground.

From this disparate bunch, Amorim indispensable someway conception a squad susceptible of doing justness to sanction of the storied nine they represent.

The backing remains. But for however long?

Amorim has won six games successful the Premier League. Half of those victories came against the teams who got relegated.

There are echoes of 2021-22, a run they started nether Ole Gunnar Solskjaer successful a acold healthier authorities than they are successful now.

But due to the fact that they mislaid the 2021 Europa League last - connected penalties to Villarreal - the Norwegian had nary buffer to support him erstwhile results turned successful a disastrous five-week spell from the mediate of October.

Amorim has decisions to make. Some are tougher than others.

Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen volition surely spell aft Sunday arsenic their contracts expire connected 30 June. Garnacho aboriginal is the taxable of debate. The aforesaid is existent of Kobbie Mainoo. Bruno Fernandes has been targeted by the Saudi Pro League adjacent if United's stance is that they person nary volition of selling.

But, crossed the squad, however galore would Amorim slap a 'not for sale' motion on? Not many, I would wager.

He knows helium cannot get escaped of 20 players and bring successful different 20 much attuned to his preferred style, truthful helium indispensable trust connected rather a fewer of those helium needed successful Bilbao.

And the world is, they are not precise good.