Manchester United gave their fans in Malaysia the authentic experience of watching the club this season to kick off their post-season tour.
The 1-0 loss to ASEAN All-Stars, a team assembled literally for this game alone, saw Ruben Amorim’s team booed off the ground by hopeful fans.
It wasn’t the finest outing for the usual suspects, with Rasmus Hojlund struggling immensely, while the youngsters impressed Ruben Amorim.
Ahead of a season with no European football, this game proved once and for all that Amorim can repeat his Sporting trick at Old Trafford.
Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images
Ruben Amorim’s Sporting trick at Man Utd
Amorim has been clear from the start of the year that he was eagerly waiting for the end of this season so he can start putting his stamp on the squad.
That stamp has as much to do with who goes out as it has to do with who comes in. Arguably the latter is less important than the former.
It takes the mind back to Amorim’s first summer at Sporting, where he oversaw the departure of a massive 25 players, permanently or on loan.
Man Utd fans got a glimpse of it in January when multiple players were allowed to leave despite no replacements being signed.
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In that summer at Sporting, Amorim didn’t go crazy with incomings either. Instead, he promoted youth players and created a small but tightly knit group of players.
There was experience provided by those who Amorim marked as model professionals, while exciting youth players rounded up the squad.
Amorim’s list of debutants at Sporting is extensive and full of big names now, but they were all untested then before Amorim took a chance on them.
It’s time to repeat that at Old Trafford. The game against ASEAN All-Stars gave plenty of evidence that it can happen again.
Youth movement is the answer for Man Utd
The similarities between Amorim’s initial time at Sporting leading up to the first summer and the same at Man Utd are uncanny.
No tears will be shed at the departure of at least 90% of the current Man Utd squad, while there are many exciting youth prospects coming through.
Sekou Kone stole the show against ASEAN All-Stars, while Daniel Armer showed he can be Man Utd’s next Harry Maguire.
Jim Thwaites impressed with his work-rate, while the likes of Shea Lacey gave a reminder of their qualities.
All this happened while no senior player covered himself in any glory, as the likes of Chido Obi outshone Hojlund, his senior counterpart, with a scary ease.
The way forward for United is clear. Listen to offers for pretty much everyone except for a few senior players, promote the youth and supplement the squad with some mercurial personalities.
It’s time to repeat what he did at Sporting. The loss to ASEAN All-Stars proved it.