Manchester United's horrible run of form continued against Newcastle United on Monday night and the latest horror-show prompted Ruben Amorim to admit that the Red Devils may well be in a relegation battle.
United were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle at Old Trafford, with the fourth consecutive defeat coming after goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton in the first half.
In a move which summed up the situation at United, Amorim brutally substituted summer signing Joshua Zirkzee after 32 minutes and replaced him with Kobbie Mainoo.
With United in 14th and just seven points off the relegation zone, Amorim commented on a relegation fight.
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"I think it's a possibility and we have to be clear with our fans," he told the BBC.
"So, we have to change something. This season it will be really hard on everybody. It can make us stronger and we have to fight it."
United's last relegation came 50 years ago in the 1973/74 season and they returned immediately the following season. But with Amorim acknowledging that Championship football next season is possible, what will happen if one of England's most successful clubs go down?
Mass exodus of senior players
There is no way United could have their current squad in the second tier of English football. Many international players would not settle for playing in the second tier and United simply could not afford to keep a good chunk of their stars given the hefty wages they are on. The average salary in the Championship is £10,000-a-week but that is likely what youth players at United earn.
Academy players grab the brass ring
It is those academy prospects who will come into their own in the event United go down. As has been the case throughout their history, United have plenty of promising academy players in their ranks - including the likes of Toby Collyer, Dan Gore, Harry Amass, Chido Obi-Martin and Jack Fletcher.
While they haven't quite had opportunities in the Premier League, going all in on youth would be the way forward in the Championship.
Monumental financial losses
Not being in the Champions League has cost United dearly but not being in the Premier League will be even more catastrophic. City AM estimates that suffering relegation from the Premier League costs a minimum of £85 million but given United's status as a global giant, that figure would likely be higher with sponsorship and ticket gates taken into account.
In September the club announced net losses of £113.2 million, before reporting an operating loss of £6.9 million for the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS would undoubtedly be forced to make more unpopular cuts.
Ruben Amorim gets the boot
Amorim is definitely not delivering a new manager bounce, with more losses than he has wins during his 11 games in charge of United. There is surely no way he would survive if United suffer relegation and an expensive sacking would be in store.
Expect him to return to comfortable surroundings in Portugal in a bid to rebuild a reputation which has been severely dented.
Topics: Manchester United, Ruben Amorim
Josh Lawless