Ruben Amorim has admitted Manchester United are fighting to avoid relegation from the Premier League after their humiliating defeat to Newcastle.

The dismal 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford, which former club captain Gary Neville described as “embarrassing” and “dark”, means United sit just seven points above the relegation zone at the halfway point of the season.

Asked directly Sky Sports If Manchester United are now in a relegation battle, Amorim admitted: “That’s really clear. It’s one of the most difficult moments in Man Utd’s history and we have to deal with it honestly.”

Amorim later added in his press conference: “When you have moments like that, especially in the big clubs, it’s really hard to change things, especially when you don’t have a lot of time to train the basics and get to grips with it.” the difficult moments.

“So we have to recognize our position, the way you look at the league, anyone can beat anyone. So we have to stay committed and focus on survival.”

United’s next game is at league leaders Liverpool on Sunday, live on TV Sky Sports.

United plummet to new low against impressive Newcastle

In-form Newcastle simply overwhelmed Amorim’s side in the first 30 minutes and United’s fourth consecutive defeat was effectively confirmed well before half-time.

“They were the better team and started very strongly,” said Amorim. “After conceding the first goal, it was very difficult for us to turn things around because of the results before and we didn’t have the formation to deal with the difficult moments. The players suffered a lot on the pitch and it was really difficult.” For us, Newcastle are the better team.

Amorim’s team selection was once again the focus of scrutiny, as were Christian Eriksen and Casemiro, as Neville and had predicted before the game Sky Sports Colleague Jamie Carragher, overrun in midfield. Joshua Zirkzee, deployed at left centre-back, barely lasted half an hour before being substituted to much fanfare at Old Trafford.

Before the game, Amorim had responded defiantly when asked if he would change his approach.

“I was hired because of that idea, and if you change your mind in those difficult moments, that’s the end for any coach,” he said.

And after the defeat, he pressed again when asked whether he would consider changing his approach, which featured a switch to a 3-4-3 formation, and vowed to stick to his principles.

“It is a decision that everyone in football has to make. If I think this is what is best for the team, I will continue to spread my message.”

Neville and Carragher condemn Amorim’s team selection

However, there are concerns that United are currently regressing, even after the mid-season coaching change following the replacement of Erik ten Hag by Amorim.

“There is no doubt that performances and results have deteriorated in recent weeks,” Neville said. “They’re having a very difficult time, some of the players with the system, they’re having a very difficult time with confidence and the worry is that they’ll get dragged into a fight down there.”

“It’s really dark. The first half hour was hard to watch.”

“A lot of what we saw, we knew was going to happen. I didn’t see any balance in team selection. When I saw the team, I thought it was going to be a battle.”

Carragher was equally devastating.

“We talked about Eriksen and Casemiro on this show 18 months ago. These players cannot run. We know that. That’s because the manager put these two players in this position and in this system.”

“But right now it’s not just about tonight. United have lost five of their last six. This is relegation level.”

How long can the lull at Man Utd last?

Sky Sports’ Adam Bate at Old Trafford:

“It’s really difficult to sell an idea when the results are bad,” said Ruben Amorim Sky Sports before Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat against Newcastle. “I was hired because of this idea, and if you change your mind in these difficult moments, that’s the end for any coach.” But sticking to this idea also brings problems.

Manchester United were a mess from the start against Newcastle. Part of this is due to players lacking confidence. The sad sight of Joshua Zirkzee being booed off the field before half-time was emblematic of a group of players who seem unhappy with their work.

But a system is designed to make their job easier, not harder, and whatever one judges the quality of the squad Amorim inherited, it is becoming increasingly difficult to argue that this is not at least part of the problem. Too many of them seem uncomfortable in their roles.

Diogo Dalot was stationed so high up the pitch for most of the game that it would have been more natural to have a left winger there rather than a former right-back. When he got the ball, he could only scoop it inside without getting any real distance.

Noussair Mazraoui, on the other hand, did little better and Matthijs de Ligt doesn’t want to be dragged into wide spaces like Alexander Isak did. Lisandro Martinez is one of the few that this form is said to suit and he endured a miserable evening in red.

Amorim would undoubtedly have preferred to take this job last summer or next rather than be thrust into a crowded schedule and asked to fix problems on the fly. But the hope would have been that he could fight through it and build up for next season.

That remains the hope, but United must press on no matter what or risk starting to rebuild from behind, something that was already in question before his first full season in charge. As he himself admits, there is an idea to sell – to the players, to the public and to his bosses.

Amorim doesn’t need a trophy. A season outside Europe could even make things easier. United are not expected to fire. Just works. But a third Premier League defeat in a row without even scoring a goal is unacceptable, even at this low point.

Man Utd have a lot to do in January

Sunday, January 5th: Liverpool vs Man Utd – Premier League, kick-off 4:30 p.m., live on Sky Sports

Sunday, January 12th: Arsenal v Man Utd – FA Cup third round, kick-off 3pm

Thursday, January 16th: Man Utd v Southampton – Premier League, kick-off 8pm

Sunday, January 19th: Man Utd v Brighton – Premier League, kick-off 2pm

Thursday, January 23rd: Man Utd vs Rangers – Europa League, kick-off 8pm

Sunday, January 26th: Fulham v Man Utd – Premier League, kick-off 7pm

Thursday, January 30th: FCSB vs Man Utd – Europa League, kick-off 8:00 p.m