Ruben Amorim: I need to go if Manchester United start next season like this says boss

The damning allegation United’s players pick and choose their games has lingered for some considerable time, dating back to Jose Mourinho’s time as manager at the club, which began in 2016.

Players have come and gone and successive managers have been sacked but the issue remains, albeit never with consequences in terms of results as acute as this season’s have been.

“In the Europa League, we don’t play quite well but we have a little bit of that urgency in having to win games,” he said. “We manage to find a way to win. We are so focused.

“In these games in the Premier League, sometimes we are not focused. It’s hard to explain that. There is a lack of urgency in everything we do. It’s a big concern.”

The concern is so big, according to Amorim, it is eating away at United’s status.

What used to be known as a ‘big club mentality’ is disappearing.

“There’s a lack of urgency when we’re defending our box and there’s a lack of urgency when we are near the box,” he said.

“We need to be more aggressive and feel that it is the end of the world when we are not winning a game.

“There is a feeling that it’s OK because we cannot change our position so much. It is a big concern.”

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy though told BBC Match of the Day, he feels there is too much negativity coming from Amorim.

He said: “I get confused with some of Amorim’s interviews and the amount of negativity that comes from them.

“I am not a big fan of a manager continually talking negatively about how bad things are. I would like to hear more solution-based answers.

“They have got a final to look forward, he hopefully has a summer of a lot of activity in the window and moulding his own team. I always felt the leaders of the clubs I was at if they were trying to look forward it helped the players, rather than constant negativity.”