Amorim says Man United could be in relegation battle

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.

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.

"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.

Elsewhere on Monday night, Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson scored either side of the break as Ipswich Town finally ended an almost 23-year wait to win a Premier League match at Portman Road with a 2-0 victory over Chelsea.

Not since April 2002, and a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough, have Ipswich celebrated home success in the top flight but hauled themselves one place up the standings to 18th with a tenacious triumph and handed Chelsea’s title hopes another blow.