Manchester United will host Chelsea on Saturday in the Premier League, hoping to turn around a dismal run of form. Since manager Ruben Amorim took charge last November, United's performance has been the worst of any ever-present Premier League team, accumulating just 31 points in 31 games. Former United captain Wayne Rooney believes the team has "got worse" under Amorim, and the pressure is mounting on the Portuguese manager.
United enters the match in 14th place, and a loss could see them slide into the relegation zone. Their recent 3-0 defeat to rivals Manchester City has only intensified the scrutiny on Amorim, who has the second-lowest win percentage of any manager in the club's league history. Despite the struggles, the team's hierarchy is said to be backing the manager in an effort to avoid another reset.
Chelsea, under manager Enzo Maresca, has made a steady start to the season and currently sits in fifth place. They are looking to extend their unbeaten league run to five games. However, Chelsea has not won a Premier League match at Old Trafford since 2013, a fact that could give the home side some confidence. Maresca acknowledged the challenge, stating, “It’s always difficult to play United away at Old Trafford. Now is not the right moment, next year or last year, it’s always difficult.”
A key player to watch for Chelsea is Alejandro Garnacho, a former United player who was frozen out of the squad under Amorim. Maresca confirmed that the winger is "ready to start" and is adapting well to Chelsea's style. Meanwhile, Cole Palmer, who scored in the Champions League loss to Bayern Munich, is also available for the match. Palmer has been a crucial player for Chelsea, with a goal involvement record that is bettered only by Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah among Premier League players since his debut.
Despite their poor form, United can take some heart from their performance at home. They have had 94 shots in their last four home league games and boast a high expected goals tally. The team's struggles are compounded by an inability to finish chances. The match against Chelsea, followed by games against Brentford and Sunderland, will be vital for Amorim as he looks to guide his team out of its current slump.