Ruben Amorim has admitted his Manchester United players are finding if difficult to play at Old Trafford with the team's struggles on home turf now a huge problem.
United entertain Glasgow Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday having lost 3-1 at home to Brighton at the weekend – their fourth home defeat in five league games.
It was also United's sixth home loss in 12 games this season, their worst run of form since 1893-94, which is a major reason why they languish down in 13th place in the Premier League table.
After the Brighton loss, Amorim described United's form as “maybe the worst” in the 147-year history of the club.
The Portuguese coach has seen his team collect 11 points in 11 league games since replacing the sacked Erik ten Hag in November. And ahead of taking on Scottish side Rangers, Amorim admits their Old Trafford form is a huge concern.
“We are more nervous playing at home than away because we've lost four games in five at home and it is getting harder,” he said on Wednesday.
“The first thing in my mind is that we need to score the first goal. If we score the first goal then that will change and we will play better at home.
“I think it is really clear – we are really anxious playing at home and it is getting harder to play at Old Trafford.”
When asked whether calling his team “nervous” is helpful to his players, the former Sporting Lisbon coach gave a bullish response.
“If you want I can be delusional and say different things,” he said. “I say it as I see it. I said it to the players and I said it to you – I think it's a good thing to be really honest.
“If you want me to say different things, I can start to do that because it is easier for me. If you are in the stadium you can feel it but I am not nervous, I am frustrated.”
Ten Hag was dismissed from his job due to poor results and the fact players are currently performing worse than under the Dutchman is not lost on Amorim.
A mini-revival at the start of January saw them draw at runaway leaders Liverpool, seal a penalty shoot-out win over Arsenal in the FA Cup and then beat Southampton in an all-too rare home victory.
But they were actually staring defeat in the face against rock-bottom Saints until a late Amad Diallo hat-trick turned the game on its head.
But there was no such rescue act against Brighton, who were helped by a dreadful error by United goalkeeper Andre Onana for Georginio Rutter's third goal.
“I am not taking responsibility away from the players,” Amorim added when asked about his post-match comments at the weekend.
“What I am saying is, the message you guys showed is that I was putting it on the players. What I am saying is, you have to look really hard to find a Manchester United team that in 10 games lost seven of them, and that is on me.
“It is the same players doing worse with a new coach. That is my only concern at the moment. I am not taking responsibility away from the players but we need to improve in the details and I've explained that.
“The way we play, we are too nervous with the ball. It wasn't the best point to make after that loss but it is what it is and I am like that all the time. I am really direct with things and I am saying in this moment, we are performing really bad and our results are really bad.
“It is everything together – the players, the staff, the technical staff. I am the biggest one responsible because I am the coach.”
Also speaking at the pre-match press conference was defender Harry Maguire, who admitted the team has been lacking focus in key moments this season.
“We have to stop giving away the first goal,” said the experienced England centre-half. “The first goal against Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth were set-plays, the first goal against Southampton was from a set-play.
“These aren't things that are tactically a problem – these are things that you have to go into a game focused on and mentally ready to win a football match.
“Football matches are sometimes defined on small margins and at the moment we aren't getting those because we aren't mentally focused enough to make them go our away.”
United are currently seventh out of 36 teams in the Europa League table after winning three and drawing three of their six games so far.
The top eight teams automatically qualify for the last-16 with the next 16 taking part in the knockout phase play-offs.
