Getty Images
We are now six games into Ruben Amorim’s reign, here is what I’ve thought so far.
After a 3-2 loss at home to Nottingham Forest and the midweek win over Viktoria Plzen, the 39-year-old’s record stands at three wins, a draw, and two defeats. Fortunately for several players, the latest defeat in the league was quickly overshadowed, when it was announced Dan Ashworth was leaving as sporting director after just five months.
Whatever the reason for Ashworth leaving the club, it has only added to the chaotic feel in recent months around the INEOS regime. And amidst this confusion, Amorim embarks on the toughest job in English club football.
He was successful in Portugal, winning two league titles with Sporting CP, but the level of interest in a floundering Manchester United is a level above and has taken him by surprise. Although, perhaps not as much as the lack of quality and poor work rate in United’s squad, compared to the team he left behind in Portugal.
The frustration was apparent last Wednesday as United succumbed to a 2-0 loss at the Emirates. Most fans expected a defeat, against an Arsenal side who look set to hit form, but to concede twice from corners was a source of irritation.
The same feeling arose within two minutes at Old Trafford on Saturday against Nottingham Forest as Nikola Milenković headed home from a corner. After two more humiliating defensive errors straight after half-time, United succumbed to their first defeat at home to Forest for 30 years.
It rounded off a disappointing week for Amorim but with five games remaining over the festive week, he now has an unenviable job of restoring confidence in a fragile group of players. He must do so as United face trips to Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool, and Arsenal in the next month.
It makes for grim reading, especially when you consider United have not won away to a ‘big six’ side since a 3-0 win at Tottenham in October 2021 - when Ole Gunnar Solskjær was in charge. If United fail to break the duck, they will be knocked out of the Carabao Cup at Spurs and FA Cup at Arsenal – their likeliest sources of a trophy.
So, what can fans expect to see as Amorim prepares to navigate a challenging festive period? He has shown a tendency to rotate, whilst he tries to ascertain what his strongest starting 11 looks like. With most of the squad available for selection, he will surely continue to alter his team to keep them fresh through the busiest spell of the season.
And with challenging games to come, he must do so. Based on the game at the Emirates, it looks as though Amorim’s approach to difficult away games will be to defend first and attack second. An Arsenal fan texted me during the match last week and likened United’s defensive shape to one of a Jose Mourinho side. Perhaps a simplistic comparison, due to their shared nationality, but the back three quickly became a back five, and United showed no real attacking intent.
However, his intention of making the team difficult to break down was largely achieved, with the notable exception of set pieces. Even if Amorim can make the team more competitive in big games, it will not be an instant fix, and fans should expect mixed results to continue.
The run of fixtures would be difficult for any manager with any team, but especially so for a coach just a month into the job, having had such little time on the training ground. United fans must remain patient, but Amorim must find a way to break the side’s big six away game duck.
Continue Reading