Ruben Amorim has suffered the worst start of a Manchester United manager in 92 years thanks to Thursday's disheartening 2-0 Premier League loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Red Devils made the journey to Molineux hoping to atone for their recent failures against Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur in the top flight and EFL Cup respectively.
However, Man United's game plan was in tatters when captain Bruno Fernandes was dismissed just two minutes into the second half, having been penalised for two bookable offences.
Vitor Pereira's men did not take long to make their numerical advantage count, as Matheus Cunha's corner flew over the top of every Man United and Wolves head into the far side of the net.
Red Devils goalkeeper Andre Onana claimed that he was being unfairly impeded, but his complaints fell on deaf ears, and Man United's desperate efforts to restore parity with 10 men were futile.
Amorim loses five of first 10 Man United games
© Imago
Amorim's team committed almost every body forward in search of an injury-time leveller, but with their backline completely exposed, Hwang Hee-chan capitalised to put the game to bed after a swift counter-attack.
In doing so, the South Korea international put the seal on Amorim's fifth loss from his first 10 games in charge of Man United, and the 39-year-old becomes the first Red Devils boss in 92 years to suffer a quintet of defeats in his first 10 matches.
The last Man United manager to endure such a woeful start was Walter Crickmer back in 1932, and not even Amorim's predecessor Erik ten Hag fared as badly in his opening 10 matches.
It took the Dutchman 13 games to lose five times at the Red Devils helm - certainly not a terrific record in its own right - but Amorim's latest setback will no doubt raise more questions over his team selection.
For the fourth game in a row, the former Sporting Lisbon head coach left Marcus Rashford out of the matchday squad, and he suggested that the attacker's attitude had not improved since he was originally axed.
Amorim curt over Rashford absence from Wolves loss
© Imago
"If he is not here you can make up your mind," Amorim told Amazon Prime. "It's always the same reason it's going to be. We have to be the same professionals. I have to be the same guy winning or losing. Losing, I have to be stronger so I will continue with my idea until the end."
Rashford has publicly declared his intention to leave Man United, who have reportedly named their asking price for the England international ahead of the January transfer window.
Following a third loss in a row in all competitions and eighth defeat of the Premier League season, Man United are still languishing in the bottom half of the standings, sitting 14th with an eight-point gap to the relegation zone.
The Red Devils conclude 2024 at home to Newcastle United on December 30, before making the trip to Liverpool on January 5 in a taxing opening to 2025.
Ben Knapton
