Man United have entered a new phase under Ruben Amorim and optimism is rightly rife again among their supporters.
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Fernandes consults Amorim before kick-off against Real Sociedad
Fernandes consults Amorim before kick-off against Real Sociedad
Ruben Amorim spent Sunday afternoon watching games at the Manchester Youth Super League near the Trafford Centre.
There were another nine more days until Manchester United played again and Portugal were playing that evening in Amorim's old house, the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon.
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Some might have expected Amorim to have maximised the inordinate 16-day gap between United's fixtures back in his homeland (temperatures were pushing 20 degrees in the Portuguese capital). Instead, Amorim, clad in a full-length padded coat and baseball cap, braved the Manchester March chill.
A friend present said he "spent ages" posing for pictures with starstruck kids. Since he touched down on the Manchester Airport tarmac on November 11, Amorim has conducted himself impeccably. The goodwill from United supporters grew as the team got worse.
Yet United have shown "encouraging signs of improvement in recent weeks", as a club staff member was quoted as saying on the fans' forum. There will still be something riding on United's season after the clocks go forward.
Amorim has earned the respite. After his post-match press conference at Leicester, a colleague quipped how he must be delighted not to have a press conference for 15 days. Amorim smiled and patted him on the back.
As much as Amorim has been talking, his superior's rhetoric has set the agenda of late. Sir Jim Ratcliffe opined that Amorim is doing a "great job". The self-critical Amorim is unlikely to agree with that.
Thirteen months ago, Ratcliffe sat at the head of the table and held court for an hour in the Ineos offices at Knightsbridge. He was as quotable then as he was during his PR offensive a fortnight ago. Amid the zingers and sound bites, there was strategic insight that did not make the headlines but is more pertinent now.
Specifically, on the style United would settle on. "We’ll decide," Ratcliffe vowed. "That team of people, it’ll be us, plus the CEO, sporting director, probably the recruitment guys, what that style of football is and that will be the Manchester United style of football. And the coach will have to play that style of football."
Those last 11 words sounded ominous for Erik ten Hag, a managerial appointment who seemed certain to at least introduce a style. Ten Hag never did.
Ten Hag seemed a sure thing where it came to introducing a style at United
Ten Hag seemed a sure thing where it came to introducing a style at United
Now, United dance to the tune of Amorim's 3-4-2-1. The head coach has decided the style, nNot the football leadership team.
Omar Berrada was on gardening leave when Ratcliffe spoke to a dozen of us in a building two goalframes away from one of the entrances to Harrods. Berrada spearheaded the push to hire Amorim in November, a move that led to the defenestration of Dan Ashworth as sporting director.
In a meeting room at Foster + Partners in Battersea two weeks ago, Berrada was reminded of what Ratcliffe had said a little over a year earlier a 40-minute walk away over the Albert Bridge.
"I think it's riskier if you have a coach that doesn't have a clear idea of how he wants to play," Berrada said. "And with Ruben we don't see that risk.
Ratcliffe at Foster + Partners earlier this month
Ratcliffe at Foster + Partners earlier this month
"And when it comes to our recruitment strategy without commenting too much, the idea we have is to be able to bring in versatile players that can be adaptable to multiple systems.
"And ultimately Ruben himself has said it, it's not about the 3-4-3 tactical formation, it's about an idea, a concept of how he wants to see the team playing. He wants to see the team playing more on the front foot, more of a possession, attacking-based style of football.
"So for that, you need players that can play in multiple positions that can adapt to that vision that Ruben has. And this is what we're going to try to do over the next years in our recruitment."
Berrada spearheaded United's push to hire Amorim
Berrada spearheaded United's push to hire Amorim
United's squad is teeming with players who jar with Amorim's formation. Some are at ease only in Europa League matches when the pace is more serene.
The fortnight before the March internationals was United's best under Amorim. Performances and results gradually improved and optimism is rightly rife again among supporters.
Athletic Bilbao are the favourites to win the Europa League, with the final to be staged at their San Mames stadium. United are arguably the best equipped, with senior players slated to return from injury for the run-in.
Suddenly, Diogo Dalot is scoring and assisting and Matthijs de Ligt is dominating. Bruno Fernandes and Joshua Zirkzee have slotted into different roles that suit them and the team, Patrick Dorgu has redressed the balance on the wings and Alejandro Garnacho is a hybrid of winger and playmaker.
United won back-to-back games before the March internationals
United won back-to-back games before the March internationals
The returning Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo are two other possible No.10s. United defeated Leicester with five centre backs nursing injuries and another one placed in a protective boot at full-time. Yet Amorim could have up to nine specialist and auxiliary centre halves to pick from in the final weeks of the campaign.
Dalot is not one of them and is unlikely to be. Yet he has experience of operating in a back three in Portugal for Porto B.
Antonio Folha, a member of Portugal's European Championship squad in 1996, coached Dalot for Porto B. “Diogo adapted well to playing as a centre back in a back three," Folha said. "His intelligence on the field allowed him to interpret the game effectively and make adjustments depending on the situation.
"In this formation, his versatility and physicality helped him fulfill the role, ensuring solid defensive contributions while still being able to support offensive transitions when necessary."
Amorim advises Dalot
Amorim advises Dalot
Jose Mourinho was struck by Amorim's intensity and stubbornness during his internship at Carrington seven years ago. Mourinho doubled down on that recently, remarking to a confidant that Amorim has a "hard brain".
Dressing room sources said Amorim has, quite naturally, gravitated towards his compatriots Fernandes and Dalot. Fernandes has captained United for more than two years and Dalot, approaching his seventh anniversary at the club, was the players' player of the year last season.
"Some players were like that with Ten Hag," a source close to one of the players said, crossing his fingers. "Amorim is keeping more of a distance, apart from with the Portuguese guys."
"Amorim values players with strong mentalities, intelligence, and versatility," Folha added. "Diogo fits this profile perfectly. His ability to play in various roles, both defensively and offensively, will make him a valuable asset in Amorim's flexible system."
Dalot playing for Porto B six months before he joined United
Dalot playing for Porto B six months before he joined United
Portuguese sources have said Amorim cherishes players who can operate effectively in central and wide roles. Dalot's remit under Amorim has been to stay wide but he veered inside time and again during Portugal's Nations League victory over Denmark on Sunday.
Ten Hag gave Dalot licence to charge to the apex of attacks, leading to his winning goal at Brighton in May. The same strategy led to his missing an open goal in Ten Hag's last match in charge at West Ham.
Dalot has got two goals and four assists this summer, one fewer in each category than he ended with last season. Now 26, Dalot is the third longest-serving member of the current United squad, behind Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof.
Eriksen won't be at United next season but Fernandes, Dalot and Dorgu should be
Eriksen won't be at United next season but Fernandes, Dalot and Dorgu should be
"His ability to quickly adapt to different positions and systems was remarkable," Folha enthused. "In particular, his defensive prowess was highlighted when playing in a back four, where his physicality gave him a clear advantage over opponents.
"Offensively, he also showcased explosive speed and a knack for creating dangerous situations in the final third. He showcased his ability to transition from defensive duties to attacking positions, whether playing as a full back or winger, making runs into the attacking zones and creating threats in the opposition's half.”
Sporting winger Geovany Quenda has eluded United and is bound for Chelsea instead. The word from Lisbon was that "United weren't going to lose their heads over him (Quenda). United preferred to wait".
Amorim won't be shopping for an alternative at the Trafford Centre.