Amorim's search for Man Utd answers

There has to be an element of apprehension for any coach ahead of a game.

They can have gone through all scenarios in fine detail with their players but in the end, once the game starts, their effect is minimal.

That is why Ruben Amorim admitted it is his "job to be worried" before Manchester United's Premier League encounter with Southampton.

He has seen his side win at Manchester City, draw at Liverpool and beat Arsenal in the FA Cup despite playing with 10 men for an hour. In modern parlance, it shows United can 'suffer' when the going gets tough and come out on top.

What Amorim has not seen is his side controlling a game. It is something they have struggled with virtually since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. It has always felt they are more effective playing on the counter-attack.

Amorim wants something different. Moreover, he knows United have to be something different if they are to compete for the biggest prizes.

The former Sporting boss says he will learn more about his team over the remainder of this week than he did over the past couple of games.

That is because it will tell him a lot about the amount of work he has to do before he can truly get United pointing in the right direction again.