Ruben Amorim’s first Man United task was to reshape their leaky defence but he’s made it even worse – the fragilities that plagued Erik ten Hag are still apparent, writes CHRIS WHEELER

As Ruben Amorim spoke to the media after Manchester United were humbled at home by Bournemouth on Sunday, water began to drip from the roof of the auditorium at Old Trafford.

Leaks are appearing just about everywhere at United these days, whether it is the stadium, Amorim’s team selections or, most worryingly of all, his defence.

If there was a sense of deja vu about Bournemouth winning here 3-0 before Christmas again, the sight of United conceding the first goal from another set-piece felt even more familiar.

Only Wolves have a worse record than United, who have conceded nine goals from free-kicks or corners in the league this season and 17 times in total in 2024. That is a club record and there are still two more games to go — against Wolves at Molineux on Boxing Day and at home to Newcastle on December 30.

Perhaps most worrying of all for United is that their defensive problems have only got worse under new head coach Ruben Amorim, who has insisted on playing a back three since taking over in November.

Amorim has the highest ratio of goals (and set-piece goals) conceded per game of any United boss in the Premier League era.

Ruben Amorim efforts to shore up Man United’s defence have so far proved unsuccessful 

United currently have the second-worst defensive record in the league, behind only Wolves

The club’s weaknesses defending set pieces were once again laid bare in their defeat by Bournemouth

In Amorim’s defence, he was parachuted in mid-season to improve a situation that was not of his making, using players he hasn’t signed.

United’s most expensive summer buy, £59million Leny Yoro, has only recently recovered from a broken metatarsal, Tyrell Malacia is working his way back from an 18-month lay-off, Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof have both broken down on their comebacks, Harry Maguire was out of action for nearly two months and Matthijs de Ligt has missed the defeats by Spurs and Bournemouth through illness.

But the teething problems experienced under Amorim, and the frailties at the back, are starting to cause concern as United suffer the embarrassment of being in the bottom half of the table at Christmas for the first time in 35 years.

Indeed, 13th position after six league games — and three defeats — under the Portuguese is only one place better off than when Erik ten Hag was sacked in October.

This is no longer simply a bad start. The Newcastle game will mark the halfway point of the season as United struggle to avoid dropping even lower than last season when Ten Hag’s eighth-place finish was United’s worst in the Premier League era.

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