As Ruben Amorim spoke to the media after Manchester United were humbled at home by Bournemouth on Sunday, water began to drip from the roof of the auditorium at Old Trafford.
Leaks are appearing just about everywhere at United these days, whether it is the stadium, Amorim’s team selections or, most worryingly of all, his defence.
If there was a sense of deja vu about Bournemouth winning here 3-0 before Christmas again, the sight of United conceding the first goal from another set-piece felt even more familiar.
Only Wolves have a worse record than United, who have conceded nine goals from free-kicks or corners in the league this season and 17 times in total in 2024. That is a club record and there are still two more games to go — against Wolves at Molineux on Boxing Day and at home to Newcastle on December 30.
Perhaps most worrying of all for United is that their defensive problems have only got worse under new head coach Ruben Amorim, who has insisted on playing a back three since taking over in November.
Amorim has the highest ratio of goals (and set-piece goals) conceded per game of any United boss in the Premier League era.
In Amorim’s defence, he was parachuted in mid-season to improve a situation that was not of his making, using players he hasn’t signed.
United’s most expensive summer buy, £59million Leny Yoro, has only recently recovered from a broken metatarsal, Tyrell Malacia is working his way back from an 18-month lay-off, Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof have both broken down on their comebacks, Harry Maguire was out of action for nearly two months and Matthijs de Ligt has missed the defeats by Spurs and Bournemouth through illness.
But the teething problems experienced under Amorim, and the frailties at the back, are starting to cause concern as United suffer the embarrassment of being in the bottom half of the table at Christmas for the first time in 35 years.
Indeed, 13th position after six league games — and three defeats — under the Portuguese is only one place better off than when Erik ten Hag was sacked in October.
This is no longer simply a bad start. The Newcastle game will mark the halfway point of the season as United struggle to avoid dropping even lower than last season when Ten Hag’s eighth-place finish was United’s worst in the Premier League era.
Ten Hag’s side had a goal difference of minus one and United are in the same situation now, having struggled to score at one end and keep them out at the other.
Amorim senses a nervousness when they play out from the back, and a fragility that saw both Spurs and Bournemouth score goals in quick succession — an issue that also plagued Ten Hag.
‘Two goals very quickly, like against Tottenham,’ he said. ‘You want to respond but you cannot do it because you suffer another goal, and then we suffer until the end of the game. It’s one of our focuses to maintain the calm when you concede a goal.’
Set-pieces have become a particular worry with United conceding a league-high 41 per cent from them this season.
Amorim has taken away the responsibility for set-pieces from first-team coach Andreas Georgson, who was brought in by Ten Hag in the summer, and given it to his No 2 Carlos Fernandes.
At every corner or free-kick, both attacking and defending, Amorim and Fernandes will swap places in the technical area like clockwork, as if they were two figures in a weather house. But the situation has only got worse with United conceding five goals from set-pieces in Amorim’s six games at a rate of 0.83. Across all competitions, set-pieces have led to goals seven times in six games.
As with every game under the new Portuguese coaching team, United’s players crowded into the penalty box during the warm-up on Sunday and practised defending Bruno Fernandes’s set-pieces.
Yet United held out for less than half an hour as young Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen rose to head in from Ryan Christie’s free-kick.
It doesn’t help that Amorim has rotated his line-up, and back three, to try to keep players fresh and get his ideas across — or that United aren’t blessed with a great deal of height when Yoro or Maguire don’t play.
‘All the areas are of concern, especially set-pieces,’ admitted Amorim. ‘We are training on that and we have to improve. There’s a lot of teams that are really strong on it, so we’re working on it a lot. We don’t have much time to explain but we’ll try.
‘Nothing bad lasts forever and nothing good lasts forever, so we must be very strong in our ideas — especially in the bad moments.’
Willowdd
0
I think he making the entire team better!! Think these players at their max they ain’t even good for the bench
doeaeimn
0
The team has lost winning mentality.They play like robots you cant see commitment expect Amad and Mazrahoui are promising.Bad enough the captain doesnt motivate,Bruno always critisizes and loses the ball trying to play hero.
Bendiga
2
How’s Amorim made it worst when these players aren’t good?? I’m now convinced, Manchester United recruitment after the past decades is shambolic, ETH get rid of players while holding on to players who really should be offload, give Amorim time.
Jukbipty
0
Just waite! leave him!
Pimacmnorz
1
Have faith in Maguire, he'll Turn it around, and score against Onana.
Ramaiosz
1
how did he make it worse?
ChaoCheeTot
0
He must admit, his selection and the defence is most worryingly. He should fix it immediately. Van Listowel was on course but Sir Jim is problematic.
Who is Van Listowel?
Wizprince11
0
None of united defenders can make it to the top 4 teams. This is how bad they are.
Thank you am a Manchester United fan but can't blame the coach right we keep buying Panic buy players for example that Leny yoro instead to go for braithwaith of Everton instead to go for Ivan Toney we went and buy Zirkzee
Aldred99
2
Give this guy a chance and let him finish Manchester united finally
Aldred99
1
Leaks are appearing just about everywhere at United these days
Mekdinprsz
1
None of united defenders can make it to the top 4 teams. This is how bad they are.
that's a big lie sir
jukbeprtu
0
He must admit, his selection and the defence is most worryingly. He should fix it immediately. Van Listowel was on course but Sir Jim is problematic.
AustinEvergreen1
1
That setpiece coach should be gone already by now I've been saying it immediately after the Arsenal game he should've been sacked.
cetdklmory
2
Not true - you can't blame the coach for MU's erratic defence - it's the players who are playing poorly !
Tebbceopst
0
None of united defenders can make it to the top 4 teams. This is how bad they are.
Heikal_Mahsir
2
have faith. trust the process.
nellomcfc
1
It's now I understand what United and Arsenal fans have been going through all these years. oh boy is so hard to adapt to failure
Bulaboyz18
3
Give him time so he can set up the team to the standard he wants.He just came in and everyone starts comparing him to other managers.What are you guys wanting from him?To be sacked right away?He needs time as he has said we are not going to win the league but we will see by the end of the season where we are on the table.That means in the transfer window he will need to sell some players and buy some.Have faith and he will deliver.
kabceoz
1
Man UTD Club Big No Portuguese Players United. Don't Rotten The English Players.
wioiorsyz
4
Same... Our task 1st task were to support the new manager.. U made it worst...