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Ruben Amorim has made a mixed start to his Manchester United managerial tenure
Ruben Amorim’s rotation policy has already upset one Manchester United player who has voiced concerns over the number of changes the new manager has made to his team in the opening month of his tenure.
Erik ten Hag’s successor began his reign with a draw at Ipswich before back-to-back wins over Bodo/Glimt and Everton provided a major source of encouragement.
Consecutive defeats against Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, however, have handed the former Sporting Lisbon boss something of a reality check.
Although the 39-year-old has stuck with his tried and tested 3-4-3 formation over the course of his five games at the helm, he has chopped and changed his starting XI and also been criticised for the number of in-game substitutions he has made.
All told, Amorim has made 23 alterations during the course of his side’s last four games and, according to the MEN, one player has already complained privately about the new manager’s tinkering.
The majority of the first team squad are, however, understood to be on board with the manager’s selection decisions and accept the reasons for the chopping and changing.
Injuries have enforced a measure of rotation, while Amorim wants to run the rule over his players in match situations before making judgements on how well suited they are to his system.
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Manchester United Travel to Plzen for Their UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Match
Manchester United face Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League this evening
‘It’s not because I like to change all the time but we have to have all the squad fit,’ Amorim said last week, attempting to clarify his thought process.
‘So, for example, Harry Maguire has a time limit, Tyrell Malacia has a time limit, Mason Mount has a time limit, Leny Yoro has a really time limit.
‘So we have to manage winning games, different methodology, different way of playing, more metres to press and tomorrow we have to assess and the guys that are a little bit at risk to some injury will not play
‘So we have to have everybody to work, to play and to improve the squad.’
Amorim, meanwhile, admits sporting director Dan Ashworth’s shock exit is ‘not the best situation’ but the United head coach believes the club’s vision remains clear and unaffected.
UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase Draw
Dan Ashworth’s departure from Manchester United was announced last week
Sunday morning brought the stunning announcement that the 53-year-old was leaving Old Trafford just 159 days after an agreement was finally struck to bring him from Newcastle.
Amorim faced the media for the first time since the sporting director’s abrupt exit ahead of Thursday’s Europa League group game at Viktoria Plzen, where the first questions focused on that development.
‘The first thing I want to say is that since the first day I felt great support from the ownership,’ the United head coach said.
‘From Omar (Berrada, chief executive), from Dan also, from Jason (Wilcox, technical director).
‘Dan was part of that, and I really, really, really felt support from Dan also.
‘But this is football and sometimes these things happens. It happens with players, with coaches.
‘I know that it’s not the best situation but the important thing is we continue in our way. The path is really clear for everybody and I think this can happen in football.’
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