Some might argue that Ruben Amorim has eaten up all the credit in the bank with the finish to the 2024/25 season but Omar Berrada remains bullish on the Man Utd manager.
Ruben Amorim took over mid-season when Man Utd were 13th, but only five points off Champions League qualification spots.
However, by the time the season finished, they were closer to relegation spots than UCL qualification and finished the season trophyless.
While many might claim Amorim needs to start the next season strongly, CEO Omar Berrada has instead compared him to Pep Guardiola, the manager who worked under him at Man City.
Ruben Amorim in deep thought in the dugout
Photo by Cesar Ortiz Gonzalez/Soccrates/Getty Images
Omar Berrada makes Pep Guardiola comparison for Ruben Amorim
As disliked as he is in the red half of Manchester, it is undeniable that Pep Guardiola set the standard for success in the Premier League since his arrival in England.
Omar Berrada was a huge part of that dynasty before he crossed enemy lines and came to Old Trafford, so if anyone has a leg to stand on while comparing someone to Guardiola, it’s him.
Still, the claim he’s made about Amorim is quite a bold one which he would hope ages out as visionary.
Speaking to Andy Mitten for United in Stand magazine (via The Athletic), Berrada compared Amorim’s tenure so far to what Guardiola went through at City when he arrived.
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He said: “Very much so [Amorim’s time so far being like Guardiola at City]. Pep stuck to his principles and given what he’d won, he had an enormous amount of credit in the bank.
“He was allowed that first year to be below-par by his standards. The club backed him that summer, the team started winning and created this winning cycle that lasted until this season.”
Guardiola’s next step needs matching by Amorim
Berrada giving confidence to the manager after years of the club being stuck in a rebuild cycle is a positive reflection of the club’s strategy and vision.
However, that is only because the comparison to Guardiola flies until the season begins.
After finishing third in his first season in England, he led Man City to a historic season in 2017/18, losing just two games all season en route to 100 points.
It goes without saying that United’s problems are much worse than City’s were at the time and so is their financial position.
Therefore, United’s decline under Amorim was much worse, and so will be the improvement next season. Still, challenging for European positions should be on the agenda.
If the next season begins like this one ended, no amount of Guardiola comparisons or long-term vision will cut in. The decline has matched Guardiola’s, now the ascent needs matching.