Manchester United got their season started with a narrow home defeat to Arsenal, but Ruben Amorim is already displaying qualities that heave earned comparisons to Sir Alex Ferguson
Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United interacts with Sir Alex Ferguson prior to the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Brighton
Ruben Amorim has been compared to Man United great Sir Alex Ferguson for one clear reason
(Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)
Ruben Amorim has been compared to Manchester United great Sir Alex Ferguson for his cutthroat character.
That's according to former Red Devil Wes Brown after the Portuguese tactician has been unabashed in making sweeping changes since arriving at Old Trafford. United opened their Premier League campaign with a close-run 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal on Sunday.
There was cause for optimism, however, after United had the lion's share of scoring opportunities despite coming off second-best thanks to Riccardo Calafiori's early decider. Summer signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha played the entire 90 minutes in their official United debuts, while Rasmus Hojlund was dropped from the squad altogether.
Altay Bayindir, whose performance was questioned by Gary Neville after his hand in Calafiori's goal, also started between the posts while rumours continue to swirl around Andre Onana's future.
Amorim, 40, has shown a willingness to make brave calls in his squad selection since replacing Erik ten Hag in November 2024. And Sunday backed up Brown's previous assertion as to how the incumbent is similar to club great Ferguson in that sense.
"I remember first coming in and Sir Alex got rid of big names," he told The Athletic earlier this month in Chicago. "They’d been brilliant for him over the years, but just like that – gone. That’s the best way to do it.
"He’s signed a few players who can play in different positions, especially those who have done really well in the Premier League. That’s a massive thing, something we’ve missed."
Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana and Lisandro Martinez of ahead of Manchester United vs Arsenal
Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana were omitted from the squad that lost to Arsenal, while Lisandro Martinez remains injured
Brown, who made his Premier League debut for United in 1998, first entered the club's first-team set-up at a time of transition for Ferguson. He had led the Red Devils to major honours with the likes of Gary Pallister, Brian McClair, Lee Sharpe and Steve Bruce in the mid-1990s, but wasn't afraid to move on big talents when the time felt right.
Onana and Hojlund were signed under Ten Hag's reign in the summer of 2023 for a combined potential fee of around £115million. Both are being linked with transfers away from United this summer, though Amorim insisted on Sunday that Onana's absence was due to a lack of training and fitness.
Bayindir's failure to dominate his area at an early Declan Rice corner unfortunately highlighted the goalkeeper situation at Old Trafford once more. Familiar struggles emerged in attack, though Mbeumo and Cunha did look promising, while fellow new signing Benjamin Sesko could only do so much in his 25-minute cameo off the bench.
New Manchester United signings Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko & Matheus Cunha pose together with team shirts prior to the pre-season friendly match between Manchester United and ACF Fiorentina at Old Trafford on August 9, 2025 in Manchester, England
United's new attacking trio was officially seen in action for the first time against Arsenal
Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia were also omitted from United's first squad of the Premier League season. Each among the quartet has been tipped to leave the club this summer, providing more evidence of Amorim's conviction in his calls.
That's in addition to academy graduate and former golden child Marcus Rashford already being loaned out to Barcelona this summer. And with January arrival Patrick Dorgu also impressing down United's left flank on Sunday, Amorim's imprint is steadily taking shape at the Theatre of Dreams.
The final fortnight of the summer transfer window could yield even more change, with certain sellable stars still technically on the books. However, Amorim's unwillingness to involve them despite the pressure of the Premier League returning shows a staunch commitment not too unlike Ferguson himself.