United’s case at Molineux was not helped by a third red card of the season for captain Bruno Fernandes just two minutes into the second half.

Matheus Cunha then exposed the visitors’ frailties from set-pieces by scoring directly from a corner before the Brazilian teed up Hwang Hee-chan to seal a vital win that lifted Wolves out of the relegation zone.

Amorim has won just two of his first seven Premier League games to leave United languishing down in 14th.

“I think we were always in control, not always dominating, but in control, but the same things, set-pieces and also the sending off was really hard for us,” said Amorim.

“I said it before everybody: it will be a long journey and this moment will be really tough. We have to continue. We need to have time to train.”

United have now lost their last three consecutive games with a 4-3 League Cup exit to Tottenham followed by a damaging 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday.

In the last five league games, Amorim’s side have conceded from either a corner or a free-kick.

Andre Onana complained he had been fouled as the United goalkeeper was pinned between two Wolves players when Cunha’s in-swinging delivery flew into the far corner.

Amorim expressed his frustration that the opening goal was not ruled out, but did take heart from the performance of his players without their skipper for almost the entirety of the second period.

“Onana cannot go to the ball because he has one man in front and one man in the back and in the last moment, he’s jumping, just a touch in his back can change the way you see the ball,” he added.

“Some guys are not even looking to the ball. But I don’t want to focus on that. The good thing is we were near the (Wolves) goal even with 10 men, but we lost and we continue our job.”

Amorim’s task does not get any easier with in-form Newcastle visiting Old Trafford on Monday.

A trip to Premier League leaders Liverpool is United’s first fixture of 2025 before they face Arsenal away in the FA Cup third round.

By AFP

The post Amorim Warns of ‘Long Journey’ Ahead for Miserable Man Utd appeared first on KahawaTungu.

The Portuguese has had a rollercoaster introduction in his first two weeks in charge of the English giants.

A disappointing 1-1 draw at lowly Ipswich was followed by an eventful 3-2 Europa League win over Bodo/Glimt.

Everton’s 4-0 thrashing at Old Trafford last weekend was the first time United had won a Premier League game by four or more goals since August 2021.

However, the gulf between the Red Devils and those sides challenging for the Premier League title was evident as the Gunners eased to victory at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

United sit 13th in the table but are only three points off the top six.

“It’s hard because it’s very competitive this league and changes all the time with just one result,” Amorim said at his pre-match press conference ahead of Nottingham Forest’s visit on Saturday.

“Before this Arsenal game you guys were asking about the top four, and now we return to this position. Nowadays it’s like that.

“We have to manage expectations and at the same time when you have a bad result you have to be calm and continue to do the job that we are doing.”

Off the field it has been a sad week for United as popular former receptionist Kath Phipps, who worked at the club for over 55 years, died at the age of 85 on Thursday.

A host of legendary former players such as David Beckham and Wayne Rooney and stars from the current squad like Marcus Rashford were among those to pay their own personal tributes.

“You feel it today,” added Amorim. “It’s a sad day. Everybody talks about lady Kathy.

“You feel it, the love, the way (United technical director) Darren Fletcher speaks about her, so she was a really important person here that represents everything this club is.

“Friendly, professional, taking care of everybody, so it’s a sad day for us.”

By AFP

The post Amorim to ‘Manage Expectations’ at Man Utd After Rollercoaster Start appeared first on KahawaTungu.

Dutchman Ten Hag was sacked on Monday following the side’s poor start to the season.

Amorim, 39, is a highly regarded coach who has won two Portuguese league titles with Sporting – including their first in 19 years – since joining in 2020.

The extent of the talks over Amorim are not known.

It is also not clear whether other alternatives remain in the frame to take the Old Trafford job.

However, Amorim is now becoming the leading candidate.

Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Portuguese Amorim said he was expecting a question about the Manchester United job but was not prepared to talk about it.

United have appointed Ten Hag’s assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy as interim manager but have so far refused to clarify how long the Dutchman will remain in charge, or whether he will definitely be in post for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie with Leicester at Old Trafford.

The club has already ruled out Van Nistelrooy conducting a pre-match media conference on Tuesday. Ten Hag spoke about the EFL Cup game after Sunday’s defeat by West Ham. Although United have spoken about the financial impact of paying compensation to Ten Hag and an incoming coach, others with a knowledge of United’s finances have suggested this will not be an insurmountable issue.

Sporting paid Amorim’s former club Braga 10m euros (£8.3m) to secure his services in 2020.

Amorim – whose contract runs until June 2026 – held talks with West Ham in April but there was no agreement and the Portuguese subsequently apologised to Sporting for holding discussions behind the club’s back.

Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham left Manchester United 14th in the Premier League with three wins from their opening nine matches.

They are also 21st of 36 teams in the Europa League table, having drawn their three opening fixtures.

Amorim ‘could be something special’ – analysis

There has been no confirmation from Manchester United about the talks with Amorim, which in itself tells a story.

It is understood there is a hefty compensation figure involved, which could be around 10m euros (£8.3m), although given the amount United spent on players over Ten Hag’s time at the club that is a drop in the ocean.

The gamble – and no matter who they go for that is what it will be – would centre around Amorim’s lack of experience outside Portugal and how he will deal with the intense pressure that comes with moving into the Old Trafford hot seat.

Those who have spoken to him previously about managerial vacancies have been impressed and realise he could be something very special.

It seems Manchester United’s power brokers think that way too.

By BBC Sports

The post Man Utd in Amorim Talks as Ten Hag Successor Sought appeared first on KahawaTungu.