Ruben Amorim's Manchester United dream on the brink of collapse after Ineos ultimatum

Defeat to Tottenham Hotspur has left Manchester United 15th in the Premier League table. Blighted by injuries, playing poor football and lacking any quality across the pitch - it's been a bruising start to life in the English top flight for Ruben Amorim.

The Portuguese head coach acknowledged it would take time for his side to play in his image, but with every passing game and every disappointing result, that claim looks to have been understated. United are nowhere near the European places, let alone the title race that supporters are craving.

Right now, if you were to ask any Red, they'd take a top-half finish. Amorim's side are just 12 points clear of the relegation zone, three places above the drop zone.

Amorim's reputation as one of Europe's brightest young coaches is taking a battering. But how much of that blame can he shoulder?

The 40-year-old was given a take-it-or-leave-it offer by Ineos, according to the man himself, as they looked for Erik ten Hag's successor, though it might have said more about the state of the club had he turned them down, rather than trying to fix the current mire. It was a gamble from United's owners too - one that is yet to pay off, and you could argue things have gotten worse.

With no money to invest in the squad in the recent January transfer window, combined with players on lofty wages who they're unable to move on, it's an ultimatum that, on the face of things, had little logic behind it. Clearly an ambitious and optimistic coach, he'll be questioning that decision and is having to make do with the players at his disposal.

Even then, he was forced to name eight academy youngsters on the bench for the clash with Spurs, given their horrific injury crisis. The injury to talisman Amad is