Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United remain struggling to take off as they huff and puff on the runway, with their draw against Real Sociedad another example of the same.
Man Utd created enough chances to put the game to bed, with Sociedad to string together passes to threaten Ruben Amorim’s men.
Just like every other game, Man United missed all their chances until Joshua Zirkzee took one, aided by the Sociedad goalkeeper, to give his team the lead.
Although Sociedad pulled it back to level terms via a contentious penalty call, Amorim will take solace from the fact that he finally seems to have his first success story at Old Trafford and it’s all down to him.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Ruben Amorim’s first Man Utd success story
If you take over a team that’s 13th in the league and five points off top-four and lead them to 14th, 14 points off top-four, any discussion of a “success story” becomes irrelevant.
However, these are not usual circumstances and Amorim is getting to grips with his team in real-time without the benefit of friendly games.
Therefore, any player who flourishes now effectively saves United millions in the summer. The likes of Amad and Manuel Ugarte had started impressing before he arrived, while Bruno Fernandes is the definition of reliability.
The player who’s been transformed most by Amorim’s arrival is, ironically, the player who many wrote off and had his worst moment under the current manager too!
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Joshua Zirkzee has been a player reborn ever since Amorim accepted his reality and stopped trying to force him as a solitary striker.
Zirkzee’s change to a No. 10 position in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 has brought out the best in him and hidden his weaknesses, namely his explosiveness and cutting edge.
Even the latter is starting to show as he grows in confidence with every game. Against Sociedad, Zirkzee shone brightest with yet another proper display of an attacking midfielder.
Joshua Zirkzee has cleared Man Utd transfer priority
Zirkzee’s breakthrough in a new position has had another effect of clearing up United’s main priority in the summer transfer window.
When he was a striker, there was a feeling that United needed him to come good and rival Rasmus Hojlund but now, there’s no competition.
Amorim recently admitted “context changed” with Zirkzee moving to attacking midfield, which is why even Chido Obi wasn’t registered for the Europa League at the time.
Now that United have a sole senior striker, and a struggling one at that, Zirkzee’s transformation has done two things – saved United millions on buying another attacking midfielder and allowed them to reroute that money towards buying a top-class striker.
Amorim’s first bonafide success story provides hope that the manager can improve players at his disposal.