PHEW-BEN AMORIM

No raining on Uniteu chier's parade as sticking to his system just about pays off as Portuguese beats red & Blues

- BY DAVID MCDONNELL

THE swirling rain that fell relentlessly from foreboding skies over Old Trafford felt like an ominous portent for Ruben Amorim.

United's early season form has been as bleak as the filthy weather that provided a miserable backdrop to a game Amorim knew he could not afford to lose.

But with the pressure having built on the United boss, his players dug deep for him to produce a vital win that could yet prove the catalyst to finally kickstart their campaign.

Amorim's technical area may have been flooded by the persistent rain, but there were no slip-ups from United.

On the eve of the game, Amorim (left) said not even the Pope could make him change from his controversial 3-4-3 formation, but he was surely praying for some divine intervention to help seal this triumph after Chelsea scored late on to ensure an anxious finale for the hosts.