Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim has endured a tricky first season with Man United
Ruben Amorim appealed for Mikel Arteta to be given time at Arsenal - two years before he found himself embroiled in a Manchester United crisis.
The Portuguese head coach was appointed as Erik ten Hag’s replacement at Old Trafford in November. But it has been a miserable spell at the club so far.
He has won just 11 out of his 24 games so far - with just five of those successes coming in the Premier League. It leaves the Red Devils sitting 14th in the table ahead of this weekend’s clash with Arsenal.
But Amorim might well look to his opposite number Arteta for how things could change dramatically. Speaking back in 2023 as Sporting Lisbon boss, he praised Arteta for eventually getting things right in North London after initially underwhelming.
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Speaking at the time, he said: “This year we are struggling, but Arteta is an example because he was able to withstand the pressure, which is unbearable for a team in the Premier League.
“Now he is bearing the fruits, it is important for fans to understand that to pick up the fruits from your work, you have to wait.”
Arteta has since established Arsenal as bonafide Premier League title challengers, while they look set to progress in the Champions League. The under-pressure United boss now finds himself in a similar position having underwhelmed with the Red Devils so far.
And he issued an almost identical comment earlier this season as United fell to a 2-0 defeat to Arteta’s Arsenal. He said: "You're constantly learning. It's very hard, but you have to take the positives and the negatives, just like any other game.
Mikel Arteta and Ruben Amorim
Mikel Arteta and Ruben Amorim faced off in 2023 ( Image: Getty Images)
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"We will focus on everything we do, get the players back fresh for the next game and get back on the pitch. We will succeed in a stadium full of our fans. We need a little time."
Arteta and Amorim will renew rivalries this weekend as Man United and Arsenal face off at Old Trafford. A win would only likely carry the former one place up the Premier League table, with European football still some way off.
But Arsenal could cut the gap to Liverpool with three points. Arteta’s side find themselves 13 points behind the Reds, with another adverse result likely ending their title challenge once and for all.
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