MANCHESTER UNITED players are astonished by how quickly they have spiralled this season.
Dressing room sources admit the squad is dispirited after the galling 3-1 defeat to Brentford on Saturday, their third Premier League reverse already this term.
The United squad was genuinely optimistic of having a successful season after a harmonious pre-season in Chicago but there is already uncertainty over the future of head coach Ruben Amorim.
Amorim has taken a meagre 34 points from 33 Premier League games in charge, overseeing only nine wins.
United are monitoring potential replacements for Amorim, with Premier League-based coaches Oliver Glasner, Andoni Iraola and Fabian Hurzeler all under consideration.
Club sources insist United have no one lined up to replace Amorim but United are 14th in the Premier League table – a place above where they finished last season.
United denied whispers that Amorim had been called in for talks on Saturday night after the debacle at Brentford.
United host fifth-placed Sunderland on Saturday before the October internationals.
The United hierarchy effectively commenced plans to sack Erik ten Hag during last year’s October internationals after United suffered three defeats from their opening seven league games, winning only twice.
Amorim said after the humbling by Brentford that he was still “confident” he could make United a credible force again.
“When you win you feel that everything, the momentum is here,” he said.
“When you lose, you go back to the same place and you fight again for one win that can help you to create the momentum.
“I’m always doing my job. If I win, I’m in a different state of mind. That is normal. But I’m always confident because I know what to do.”
United have spent more than £250million on seven players since Amorim came in but they have won two of their first six league games and have a goal difference of -4.
Their woeful league start was compounded by the humiliating League Cup second round exit to League Two Grimsby Town last month.
United’s first game after the October internationals is against Liverpool at Anfield, where they are winless in ten stretching back to January 2016.
Although United performed impressively to draw 2-2 at Liverpool under Amorim last season, they then play Brighton at home, Nottingham Forest away and Tottenham away – fixtures they all lost last season.
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