Omar Berrada and Ineos are set to face the biggest test of their time at Man Utd so far, and they need to stick to their promise already made with the fans.
The early-season excitement surrounding Man Utd has been replaced by trepidation and nervousness again after the draw against Fulham.
More than the result or the performance, Ruben Amorim’s stubbornness with team selection and a lack of logical reasoning behind it has turned a section of the fans against him.
It has brought into renewed focus a promise Omar Berrada made to Man Utd fans back in March about United’s transfer activity.
Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United, interacts with Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United after the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and AFC Bournemouth at Old Trafford on December 22, 2024
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Omar Berrada made a Man Utd transfer promise
When Ruben Amorim first walked through the doors at Old Trafford, a single question dominated the discussion.
Would he stick with his back-three formation, or would he change to suit his players, or the demands of the league?
He’ll have been here for a year in November, and the answer to that question couldn’t be clearer.
When it was clear that Amorim was completely wedded to his system, the question shifted to Ineos, because not many managers played a back-three formation.
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Would they get into the trap Glazers found themselves in by buying/selling players for the manager, necessitating a rebuild every time the manager gets sacked?
Or would they function as a coherent club where the direction comes from the top, and the manager is to only implement those directions?
Omar Berrada said back in March that they were going to fix those issues by buying and selling players not just for Ruben Amorim and his system, but players who are adaptable and fit the United ethos.
Five months on from that statement, Berrada is facing his toughest test yet. He has to stick to his word.
Amorim’s view of Kobbie Mainoo will need mediation
Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, and even Antony, to an extent, were understandable exiles.
They were the cost of resetting the culture, but Amorim needs to quickly realise that there are no mitigating factors to justify snubbing Kobbie Mainoo.
Saying he’s Bruno Fernandes’ backup, but then not subbing Fernandes at his worst moment, defeats his message of meritocracy.
Clearly, there is a systemic issue with the player not being considered fit to play in Amorim’s system.
The trouble is, Mainoo has proven himself fit to play in any system, and the chances of him proving the same if he leaves are too high to consider.
That’s where Berrada’s promise comes in, because Mainoo has to be where Ineos draw the line in the sand, and urge Amorim to make it work.
Backing the manager and trusting him blindly are two different things, which is why they can’t let Mainoo leave the club just because Amorim can’t find a place for him.
Most managers at most clubs can, and will. Amorim might not be here in 10 years, but Mainoo definitely can be. It’s a no-brainer decision.
Berrada has already promised he’ll make the right decision.