Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim said he was not concerned about his job after a day on which a previous step forward had been followed by another one back.
The optimism generated by the victory over Chelsea seven days beforehand was lost in a 3-1 defeat at Brentford that kept United firmly in the bottom half of the Premier League.
The club, though, remain supportive of their head coach despite the damaging loss.
Sources insist minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is backing Amorim, and feels it is only fair to judge the Portuguese on a full season with what he views as the right team.
Multiple suggestions from external sources that shortlists of replacements have been drawn up have been dismissed by United officials, who are adamant no-one is being lined up to replace Amorim.
Nevertheless, speculation will continue, increasing the strain on the 40-year-old before Saturday’s game with in-form Sunderland at Old Trafford.
United have collected 34 points from Amorim’s 33 league games in charge and have still to win successive matches.
The promised improvement after last season’s woeful 15th-place finish is yet to materialise, and afterwards Amorim was forced to answer more questions about his future.
“I am never concerned about my job – I am not that kind of guy,” he told BBC Match of the Day.
“It is not my decision. I will do the best I can every minute I am here.”
