A lowly finish, disciplining star players and acrimony towards the ownership: are there similarities between Mikel Arteta and Ruben Amorim?
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Amorim and Arteta embrace at the Emirates
Amorim and Arteta embrace at the Emirates
Ruben Amorim insists he will not get as much time to revive Manchester United as Mikel Arteta has had at Arsenal.
Arteta took over as Arsenal coach in December 2019 and the club won the FA Cup eight months later in a behind-closed-doors final due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
After successive eighth-placed Premier League finishes in Arteta's first two seasons, Arsenal ended in fifth, second and second, finishing two points behind champions Manchester City last season.
Despite City's spiralling form this season, Arsenal have failed to keep up the pace with champions-elect Liverpool, who are 13 points clear of Arteta's side, second again. Arsenal's trophy drought will extend beyond five years unless they win the Champions League, with Arsenal certain to face Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals. Arsenal have not won the Premier League title since 2004.
In his first two years at Arsenal, Arteta phased out star players Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with the latter stripped of the captaincy after a number of disciplinary issues.
Amorim has acted decisively with Marcus Rashford, who was omitted from 11 out of 12 matchday squads before he joined Aston Villa on loan on February 2. Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were dropped from the United squad for the Manchester derby victory at City in December.
Garnacho also had to explain to Amorim why he went straight down the tunnel following his first-half substitution in the win against Ipswich Town last week. The winger offered to pay for a squad dinner by way of an apology.
With United due to host Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, Amorim was asked if he saw similarities between himself and Arteta. "I don’t feel that. I will not have the time Arteta had," Amorim said. "I feel that.
"It’s a different club. So we just need to survive with the players (against Arsenal) on Sunday and we are doing these games.
"I think it’s a different club. I think in that aspect, the way Arteta dealt with that is an inspiration for everybody but I will not have the time like Arteta had."
Amorim has triumphed at Arsenal in penalty shootouts with Sporting and United
Amorim has triumphed at Arsenal in penalty shootouts with Sporting and United
Amorim suffered his first defeat as United manager away to Arsenal in December, having forecast a "storm" at his pre-match press conference for the game. Ten-man United did prevail against Arsenal via a penalty shootout in the FA Cup third round in January.
Arsenal annihilated PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in their Champions League round-of-16 first leg on Tuesday and have two extra days to prepare for this weekend fixture. United could still be without ten players through injury but striker Chido Obi will be available again after he was omitted from their Europa League squad.
"In the Premier League, every game is really important," Amorim stressed. "In our moment we need to win. It's always a problem when we don't win.
"We have to focus on everything at the same time. I think the biggest problem is not having all the players. In the beginning, people talk about our rotation, especially in Europe, changing all the time and it's because of this.
"Europa League is, in my opinion, so much harder than the Champions League. Not the game, but the recovery to play in the Premier League on the weekend. We have to deal with that."
United drew 1-1 with Real Sociedad
United drew 1-1 with Real Sociedad
United matchgoers are planning to stage a protest against the Glazer family's ownership around the Arsenal match. Supporters have been urged to wear black to "symbolise how the club is slowly dying due to huge debts, mismanagement and fan exploitation".
Ticket prices were hiked to £66 mid-season, up to 200 more staff will be made redundant later this year and the team are 14th in the Premier League. Amorim defended fans' right to protest.
"For everybody in our club, it's a really tough moment," he acknowledged. "It's everything at the same time. The only thing I can do and our players can do is perform well and win.
"People have the right to protest. I think it's a good thing to do that. It's part of our club. Everybody has a voice. But our job and my job is just to improve the team and give them something in this moment because they deserve it and they are amazing."