Ruben Amorim says he retains the long-term support of the Manchester United hierarchy, following a meeting with co-owner Jim Ratcliffe on Thursday.

United have endured a frustrating start to the season, sitting 14th in the Premier League with four points from four matches after last week's 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City.

The Red Devils were also dumped out of the EFL Cup by fourth-tier Grimsby Town, while their only victory this season came via a 97th-minute penalty at home to Burnley.

Amorim's position has been called into question repeatedly in recent weeks, with United having the worst Premier League record among all 17 ever-present clubs since he took charge last November (31 points from 31 games, below Tottenham on goal difference).

Amorim's Premier League win rate stands at 26% (8/31), the worst figure of any manager to lead United in the top flight since the Second World War. Among all managers to lead United in at least 20 such games, only the club's first manager Alfred Albut (20%, 1892 to 1900) and Scott Duncan (24%, 1932 to 1937) have a lower win ratio.

Amorim's summit with Ratcliffe created headlines as United build towards Saturday's meeting with Chelsea, but when asked what the meeting was about, the Portuguese coach joked: "New contract, he was offering me a new contract! 

"No, it was normal things. To show his support, explaining that it is a long project. He said many times this is my first season. For me, it's not. But it was normal things.

"I spoke with him, Omar [Berrada, chief executive] and Jason [Wilcox, director of football], trying to see all the data around the team.

"So, it was a normal meeting, and we had several. But in this moment, it's normal that people pay attention to that."

United may have cause for optimism ahead of Saturday's game, given Chelsea's terrible record at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League home games against the Blues (W5 D7), since a 0-1 defeat in May 2013 under Alex Ferguson. 

Indeed, Chelsea's win rate of 18% at Old Trafford in the Premier League (6/33) is their lowest in away games against any team they have visited at least 10 times in the competition.

While results have remained unconvincing, Amorim remains certain United are on the right track, adding: "This is a club with maybe more pressure than any in the world. 

"Last year I was very critical of the way we played. Now I think we are playing well until the boxes. 

"We need to be more clinical. We are in a better place compared to last year, but we need to win."