Amongst the disappointment and the drudgery, Ruben Amorim has already had some memorable days at Manchester United: a Premier League win at the Etihad, a brilliant draw at Anfield, and an FA Cup win at the Emirates.
They are probably the three most challenging away games a [United](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/manchester-united-fc) head coach can face, and Amorim came through them all with his reputation enhanced. The late win at City saw the visitors take advantage of a team short on confidence, but United improved as the game went on and took their chances to turn the match around.
The 2-2 draw at Anfield remains the gold standard for performances under [Amorim](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/ruben-amorim). United defended well and attacked with real vigour and intent. It is as good as they have looked, and having taken the lead, they showed character to rescue the game once Liverpool had gone in front.
At Arsenal, United showed resilience again, coping with Diogo Dalot's sending-off to take the game to penalties and prevail. It was a memorable day, given the sizeable away following that come with FA Cup fixtures.
There are a couple of common threads that unite those games: all of them are against United's fellow 'big six' rivals, and they are away from home. Those conditions suit Amorim and his 3-4-2-1 system at the moment when his team are permitted to sit back, be a little more reactive and pick their moments to strike.
It's no coincidence that most of Amorim's struggles have come at Old Trafford against weaker opposition. When the onus is on United to control the game, dictate play, and take the attack to the opposition, they are looking short of ideas. When teams sit in against them, they can't break them down, but the bigger sides allow Amorim's team space to play, and that suits them.
The other advantage United had ahead of the trip to Anfield was a clear midweek, allowing a full training block. That allowed Amorim and his coaching staff to drill down into their methods in the first part of the week before focusing on preparation for the opposition in the final session or two.
That has been impossible for most of the schedule since the 40-year-old was appointed in November. That's changing now, and this week has been the second of three straight midweeks without a game. In fact, United will have had eight days between games since beating Leicester City in the FA Cup and facing Tottenham Hotspur.
That should have allowed Amorim his best block of work yet with this squad. Now, facing Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, they have the chance to lay down a marker and improve on that performance at Liverpool early in January.
This will be the second time United have faced Tottenham in north London since Amorim's appointment. The 4-3 Carabao Cup defeat came with a changed starting XI and on a Thursday night during a busy period of the season. The training time at Carrington this week should allow for improvements to be on show.
They will also be facing a fellow 'big six' who are having an even worse campaign than they are, although a win for Ange Postecoglou's team will lift them above United. The injury crisis that has blighted Tottenham is easing a little, but most of those players won't be fit to return from the start this weekend.
It all adds up to a real chance for United to go up another gear under Amorim. This has been their best week of training so far, and they will face an opponent who arguably plays to their strengths. Improvements will be expected.