RUBEN: PAINFUL PROCESS, BUT MY REDS

RUBEN AMORIM believes his Manchester United players need to feel the love rather than the hairdryer.

- SIMON MULLOCK

The Reds go into a season-defining week which will see them meet Fulham in the fifth round of the FA Cup this afternoon and Real Sociedad on Thursday in the Europa League last 16.

Amorim (left) accepts he has some tough decisions to make, regardless of what happens between now and the summer.

But the United boss insists that now is not the time to show his ruthless streak as he attempts to bring some success to a club that is enveloped by crises both on and off the pitch.

Amorim said: "The team is trying - and I understand that they are trying - but they cannot do it, so I am not going to be ruthless just to show strength.

"I'm just trying to understand everything about my team to help them be better.