Statistics revealed a decline since Ruben Amorim took charge of Man United
The 39-year-old boss has lost half of his league games since taking the reins
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By ADRIAN BISHOP
Published: 10:27 EST, 24 December 2024 | Updated: 10:29 EST, 24 December 2024
Recent statistics have painted a damming picture of Ruben Amorim's Man United when they are out of possession.
After Erik ten Hag was sacked in October having led the club to their worst start in the Premier League era, Amorim arrived from Sporting Lisbon tasked with bringing United back to their best.
The 39-year-old has immediately set about installing his football philosophy and has proven that he does not shy away from making big calls, including leaving Marcus Rashford out of their last three matchday squads.
Speaking following a faltering start in his new role, Amorim insisted his team need to improve their defensive intensity if they are to return to the pinnacle of English football.
‘If we want to win the Premier League, we have to run like mad dogs. If not, we aren’t going to,’ he admitted.
‘Even with the best starting XI on the planet, without running they will not win nothing, that is very clear. It’s impossible to win the Premier League without a team like that.
Statistics have painted a damming picture of Ruben Amorim's defensive rebuild at Man United
Following his arrival Amorim insisted his team needed to be intense off the ball to compete with the best in the Premier League
But an analysis of his first six Premier League games in charge has revealed his philosophy has not yet reaped rewards at the back
‘I think the way we sprint back, the way we sprint forward, the way we fight, we have to be very clear with the team, this is the first point we have to address.'
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However, an in-depth examination from Stats Perform has revealed Amorim's side still have a long way to go.
A quantitative analysis of Amorim's six Premier League games in charge has revealed that many of United's stats off the ball are actually worse than they were in Ten Hag's ill-fated start to the campaign.
Since the Portuguese took the reigns in November, United's pressures, kilometres run and interceptions per game are all lower than they were under the Dutchman.
In addition, United are currently conceding an average of 1.7 goals a game, the worst of any United manager in the Premier League.
However, while the above may make for painful reading for United fans, there are signs that Amorim's influence is starting to make an impact.
The club are now scoring more per game in the league then they did under Ten Hag this season (1.7 vs 0.7), and are facing fewer shots on average (10.7 vs 11.7).
United find themselves in the bottom half of the table at Christmas for the first time since 1989, and go to Wolves on Boxing Day having lost half of Amorim's six Premier League games in charge.
In many aspects the club are performing worse than they were in Erik ten Hag's ill-fated start to the campaign
United currently find themselves in the bottom half of the table at Christmas for the first time since 1989
The new head coach is confident he can turn things around and has a plan to take the club forward, but accepts he doesn't have all the answers.
'If I knew, I would solve all the problems of this club, even this,' he said, pointing to the ceiling where a leak appeared during his press conference for the Wolves game.
'I know what I'm going to do, that is so clear for me. That's why I feel so … I will not say relaxed because I'm really frustrated, also like the fans, but I know what to do.
'But then we have to solve some problems step by step, finding answers for everything. But it's a very difficult moment. We understand the fans and we will fight that.'