After a 0-1 defeat to Tottenham, Man United dropped to 15th place in the rankings. Coach Ruben Amorim has received a lot of criticism as the team has now lost 8 of their last 12 matches in the Premier League.
It was luck that the three of the Red Devils had three of their four small victories under Amorim. They beat Southampton after falling behind until the 80th minute; a miraculous comeback at the end of the derby with Man City; and a narrow win over Fulham with the only shot on target.
The Portuguese coach has remained loyal to the 3-4-2-1 system for the 21 matches so far. He admits conservatism in his principles but is willing to bet on it.
But Man United have stepped deeper into difficulties by lending Marcus Rashford and Antony in the winter transfer window without any replacements for either.
As a result, in the match against Tottenham, the team had to name 8 young players from the academy who had never played a single minute for the first team. In the extra time, 17-year-old striker Chido Obi was brought on to replace Casemiro. The Red Devils were stuck against Spurs for the whole match but there were no personnel adjustments.
Now, Amad Diallo's injury-free spell continues to seriously affect United's attack. However, coach Amorim still flatly refused to experiment with the 3-4-3 formation. There are up to 12 injured first-team players, the current squad cannot meet the technical and physical requirements of the 3-4-2-1 system.
It is difficult for any fan to be patient with the team's performance, even though Amorim insists he is willing to face the risk of being sacked, just to keep his philosophy.
Optimism that the club could start a comprehensive rebuilding of personnel following Amorim's playing style in the January transfer window has been on hold. Fans will have to wait until the summer to get the players who helped him succeed at his former club Sporting in Portugal.
But it depends on how many people come and go. To buy new players, Man United had to sell unsuitable players. With their current form, which team will pay for Man United's substitutes, not to mention their huge salaries?
Although Amorim has to take over in mid-season with many difficult factors, the results are even worse under his predecessor Erik ten Hag, which is undeniable.
The 40-year-old's personality and strong courage create the belief that he can turn the club's fortunes. However, there is no guarantee that the short-term pain of the present can be exchanged for the promised long-term benefits. Not to mention, no one is sure how long Man United will have to wait to see the first shining light.
