Amorim arrived at Old Trafford with a reputation for bold tactics and an uncompromising vision, inheriting a Manchester United side reeling from Erik ten Hag’s controversial sale of Scott McTominay.
His rapid introduction of a three centre-back, marauding wing-back system intrigued some fans, baffled others, and faced the ultimate test of whether “Amorim’s Plan” could succeed or collapse under its own ambition.
No one can doubt that Erik ten Hag’s sale of Scottish midfielder Scott McTominay to SSC Napoli for £25.7 million on August 30, 2024, just as the season began, was straightforward managerial suicide. McTominay had been instrumental in United’s 2024 F.A. Cup victory, in which he featured prominently. Deployed tactically as a “false centre-forward,” his habit of dropping deep into midfield, drawing defenders away from the back line, and linking up with forward runners led directly to defensive midfielder Kobbie Mainoo’s goal in the 39th minute against Manchester City — United’s second in a 2–0 lead — before a late right-footed strike from Belgian winger Jérémy Doku, on for Croatia’s Mateo Kovačić, made it 2–1.
McTominay’s season tally of 33 (1) appearances for 12 goals, alongside Belgian centre-forward Romelu Lukaku’s 35 (1) appearances for 14 goals, carried Napoli to the 2024–25 scudetto. The triumph earned them the Coppa Campioni d’Italia and the right to wear the green–white–red scudetto badge on their shirts for the following season.
For a club accustomed to finishing behind Internazionale, A.C. Milan, and Juventus, McTominay’s tactical intelligence and athleticism — compensating for any lack in vision or finesse — wrested the championship away from the Milan giants and Turin’s “Old Lady.” He contributed goals and inspiration as an irrepressible attacking presence seemingly impossible to deny. That ten Hag allowed him to leave, citing that Manchester United “couldn’t afford him,” was seen by many as a feeble excuse equivalent to jeering at the disabled.
Ten Hag appeared to be building a core side capable of challenging for the Premier League title, with Mainoo anchoring midfield, Alejandro Garnacho on the right wing, Marcus Rashford centrally or on the left, and Diogo Dalot at right-back. Yet, loss number four from nine league games left the club in 14th place. He was sacked on October 28, 2024, after a 1–2 defeat at West Ham’s London Stadium — widely deemed the result of McTominay’s departure.
McTominay’s end-of-season joy contrasted sharply with United’s 0–1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa Cup Final on May 21, 2025, at Athletic Club’s San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao. A 42nd-minute goal from close range by Welsh winger Brennan Johnson, following a left-sided cross from Senegal midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, sealed United’s fate. England left-back Luke Shaw, attempting to clear Johnson’s initial mis-hit past André Onana’s right-hand post, inadvertently teed it up for Johnson to finish neatly inside the upright.
Ten Hag’s “managerial suicide” meant his replacement, Portuguese coach Rúben Amorim — double Primeira Liga winner with Sporting CP — was in charge. But losing another 14 league games after ten Hag’s four suggested disaster. Amorim introduced his Sporting system of three centre-backs and two wing-backs, baffling many fans. He took over officially on November 11, 2024, after a short caretaker spell from former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who had guided a 2–0 Europa Cup win over PAOK at Old Trafford.
Ivorian winger Amad Diallo scored both goals in that match and became a favourite under Amorim. Signed from Atalanta in January 2021 for €21.3 million, Diallo had enjoyed productive loan spells at Rangers and Sunderland. He displaced Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Joshua Zirkzee at various times, finishing joint top scorer with Bruno Fernandes on eight goals. However, no United player reached double figures — the lowest team tally since the relegation season of 1973–74.
Diallo’s brace against PAOK typified his style: a looping header in the 50th minute and a curled left-footed finish in the 77th. After Rashford and Zirkzee each scored twice in a 4–0 win over Everton on December 1, United sat ninth, and Rashford led the team with four goals. But after successive defeats to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, Amorim dropped Rashford entirely, loaning him to Aston Villa in February. Injuries meant he played no further part, leaving United without attacking bite in the season’s final stages.
To many, McTominay’s sale was ten Hag’s self-inflicted wound, and Rashford’s exile was Amorim’s. Both managers preferred inverted wingers supporting a lone striker rather than traditional wing play with two centre-forwards. Amorim’s back-three system demanded specialist wing-backs, but United lacked the personnel. The tactical demands — especially the sweeper/“libero” role — evoked comparisons to Sergio Ramos or Franz Beckenbauer, players of a calibre United did not possess.
Amorim signalled his intent by signing Denmark’s Patrick Dorgu and Paraguay’s Diego León for the left wing-back role, then spending heavily on forwards Matheus Cunha (£62.5 m), Bryan Mbeumo (£65 m), and Benjamin Šeško (£66.4 m). Yet results failed to match the outlay.
Some fans felt Garnacho should have started the Europa Final ahead of Mason Mount, who had been injury-prone since joining from Chelsea for £55 m in 2023. Mount did, however, score twice in the semi-final second leg against Bilbao, after Garnacho starred in the first leg’s 3–0 win.