Manchester United's season could have easily gone in several different directions
Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United
Kobbie Mainoo was linked with moves away from Manchester United before a change of manager(Image: Pedro Porru/MB Media/Getty Images)
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Manchester United produced a season full of highs and lows, driven by a few crucial decisions. Michael Carrick oversaw the high points of the campaign after initially returning to Old Trafford as interim boss.
The 44-year-old got his reign off to a perfect start with wins over Manchester City and Arsenal in January. The team’s momentum never truly slowed under Carrick, whose side comfortably finished third in the table and signed off with a 3-0 victory at Brighton on Sunday.
However, United’s fortunes appeared more uncertain during former manager Ruben Amorim’s time in charge. The Portuguese coach was dismissed at the turn of the year, bringing his 14-month tenure to an end.
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Amorim had led United to 15th place the previous season, though there were signs of improvement this term. The club were sixth upon his departure and on the cusp of a Champions League place but the team were still demonstrably underperforming.
The decision to change managers and hire Carrick has been credited with reviving the Reds’ season but there were other factors in play. Here, MEN Sport looks at how three alternate decisions could have seen United’s season go in a different direction.
Ruben Amorim stays
Michael Carrick recently signed a two-year deal to become United boss permanently. However, it is feasible that the club hierarchy could have resisted the urge to switch managers and backed Amorim to deliver success.
The team were competing for a Champions League spot, despite struggling to produce convincing performances. Amorim’s side had picked up 31 points from 20 games, averaging 1.55 points per match.
While that is still some way off Carrick’s remarkable 2.29 points per match, Amorim’s side were on course to finish with just shy of 59 points. In the final Premier League table, United would be sixth, narrowly missing out on the last Champions League place.
Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim left Manchester United in January(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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However, this is a too-simplistic view. While the squad achieved notable results, there was often a lack of self-belief and confidence in Amorim’s trusted formation, which would likely have led to a regression later in the season.
Kobbie Mainoo leaves
One consequence of Amorim remaining United manager in an alternate world would be that Kobbie Mainoo may have left the club. The young midfielder had not started a league game this season at the time of Amorim’s departure and was regularly linked with moves away, both in the summer and ahead of the January window.
Fortunately, United have avoided that reality as the 21-year-old has enjoyed a resurgence under Carrick. Mainoo, who has since signed a new five-year deal, won in 12 of his 16 league starts under the new boss and showed what the club risked missing out on if Amorim had remained in charge.
Kobbie Mianoo and Ruben Amorim
Kobbie Mainoo struggled for regular minutes under Ruben Amorim at the start of the season (Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
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Moreover, Mainoo could not force his way into the team at the time because Bruno Fernandes occupied a deeper midfield role, curtailing his creative influence. While the United captain ended the season with a record 21 Premier League assists, he only registered seven of those under Amorim.
Senne Lammerns replaced
United starting the season with Altay Bayindir in goal seems like a lifetime ago. Amorim had lost faith in Andre Onana and opted for Bayindir as the club pursued a new shot-stopper in the final days of the summer transfer window.
The Reds were interested in Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez and could have chosen the World Cup winner to solve their major goalkeeping issue. The 33-year-old would have brought instant experience and proven reliability to United’s backline, as demonstrated by his role in Villa’s Europa League triumph and fourth-place finish in the league.
Senne Lammens of Manchester United
Senne Lammens enjoyed an impressive debut season at United(Image: Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Eyebrows were raised when United ultimately signed Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens. However, the Belgian quickly surpassed expectations and settled into his role. At 23, he could remain United’s number one for the next decade, making him a more shrewd addition than Martinez.
Final verdict
United had improved from their first few months under Amorim, helped by signing a new frontline in the summer, but there was no indication that the team would reach the heights they did during Carrick’s tenure. A gradual drop-off in the second half of the season and the potential unrest from Mainoo's departure would have seen the club fall out of the Champions League race and scrape a Europa Conference League spot by finishing eighth.