Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is facing increasing pressure as his team prepares to host Chelsea at Old Trafford on Saturday. Following a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, United is currently sitting in 14th place in the Premier League, having accumulated just four points from a possible 12. This marks their worst start to a league campaign in three decades.
Despite the mounting pressure, Amorim has maintained a positive outlook, particularly regarding the return of key players from injury. In Friday's pre-match press conference, Amorim announced that Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount are both fit and available for selection against Chelsea. Both forwards had been sidelined since picking up knocks in United's 3-2 victory over Burnley in August. Their return provides a significant boost to Amorim's squad, offering more versatility in attack. However, Diogo Dalot remains unavailable due to a muscular complaint, and Lisandro Martínez is still recovering from an ACL tear, with his return targeted for late October. Amorim has lamented Martinez's absence, emphasizing how much the team misses his aggression and presence.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has voiced his support for Amorim, despite the pressure he is under. Maresca described Amorim as a "magnificent manager," highlighting his impressive track record at Sporting CP. He acknowledged that starting a new project can be challenging and that Amorim may need time to implement his ideas effectively. Maresca also pointed out that United has had a full week to prepare for the game, while Chelsea is coming off a midweek Champions League fixture against Bayern Munich.
Amorim has admitted he may need to evolve his system, but is worried about making changes too quickly. He did not discuss his system with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, but recognizes that changes will be necessary if he is given time. One area of concern has been the role of Bruno Fernandes in midfield, with Amorim seeking to balance Fernandes' attacking instincts with the need for greater control in possession.
In other team news, Tyrell Malacia is being reintegrated into the Manchester United squad. The left-back, who had been out of favor and was expected to leave in the summer, is now back in training and could feature for the Under-21s to regain his fitness. Amorim stated, "Tyrell Malacia is returning with contact with team-mates and the ball in the U21s then we'll see". This contrasts with Chelsea's approach to players who failed to secure summer transfers, as some are still training away from the first team. Former Premier League goalkeeper David James has bizarrely suggested that Tom Heaton should start in goal.
Manchester United will be aiming to improve their poor form and capitalize on Chelsea's possible fatigue from their European commitments. Meanwhile, Chelsea will be looking to continue their unbeaten start to the Premier League season, although they are coming off a defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
