Never mind the confidence vote, what Amorim really needs is a statement win

RUBEN AMORIM will have taken Sir Jim Ratcliffe's public vote of confidence in him one of two ways.

- DAVID MCDONNELL

The Manchester United head coach (above) may have welcomed the public endorsement of his boss, along with Ratcliffe's belief that Amorim needs to be judged over the length of his three-year contract at Old Trafford.

Or Amorim will have viewed Ratcliffe's backing, like so many did, as the dreaded vote of confidence, the precursor to the inevitable sacking, having been so publicly supported by the man in charge.

However he views Ratcliffe's show of support, Amorim knows the only way to remain in charge of United long-term and to continue to have the backing of the club's hierarchy is with an upturn in results.

A haul of 37 points from a possible 112 is the kind of return that sees teams relegated and one Amorim knows cannot continue, even with Ratcliffe's three-year security blanket for comfort.

Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox will not hesitate to pull the trigger if results do not improve significantly.