When Amorim was appointed last November, he made it clear that his preference was to wait until the end of the season before joining the club.<\/p>\n
However, United’s board stressed it was a “now or never” offer.<\/p>\n
That, coupled with the perceived mess that Amorim inherited and his desire to play a completely different formation, meant many gave him a free pass last term.<\/p>\n
The logic was that, after the lowest Premier League finish (15th) in the club’s history, a full pre-season with new signings would be a fresh start.<\/p>\n
But evidence of that has been in short supply. <\/p>\n
“What an embarrassment for Manchester United,” former England striker Chris Sutton told Radio 5 Live.<\/p>\n
“Where does Ruben Amorim go from here? The perception of him now, I don’t think he gets over this.<\/p>\n
“If I was Ruben Amorim tonight there is not a prayer that I would have made eight changes. I would have played my strongest team, try to put the game to bed and then make changes.<\/p>\n
“That was an error from him in my book. He will struggle to come back from this. The pressure this season is well and truly on now. If I’m him, I am officially worried.”<\/p>\n
Last season’s 15th-placed finish in the Premier League means United are without European football this season for just the second time in 35 years.<\/p>\n
But defeat in the Carabao Cup has scuppered one possible route back into Europe.<\/p>\n
It increases pressure on performances in the league, where their two opening fixtures have produced just one point – leaving them 16th.<\/p>\n
The pressure on Amorim is not what minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe envisaged when he sanctioned a move for the Portuguese last November.<\/p>\n