Ruben Amorim - Will he solve United’s problems?

Author: Jack Guing, Last Updated: 13 Nov 2024

Once again, Manchester United has a new permanent manager after the sacking of Erik Ten Hag after just over 2 years in charge of the Manchester club. The man chosen to lead Manchester United through their next phase is Portuguese man Ruben Amorim, who left his post as Sporting Lisbon manager to take this role at Man United. Amorim was a success at Sporting Lisbon winning 2 league titles including most recently the 2023/2024 Liga Portugal, losing just twice in 34 games and getting 90 points. Amorim had previously managed Braga taking over on the 4th January 2020 but leaving for Sporting Lisbon just two months later. Even though he had little experience, Sporting Lisbon paid €10 million for his services, the third highest transfer fee for a manager in history at the time. He has spent 4 years at Lisbon winning 2 league titles and helping to develop players such as Manuel Ugarte who now plays for Manchester United following his move in the summer from PSG.

Amorim’s Style of Play

Amorim will certainly attempt to bring about change to Manchester United and their current philosophy. It could be said that under Erik Ten Hag United lacked an identity. Ten Hag arrived at the club with a style of play that was based on high pressing and playing out from the back but he quickly abandoned this after just two games in charge following defeats to Brighton and a 4-0 hammering by Brentford. For the next two years Man United played without a recognized identity, often relying on moments from players to get them out of trouble.

Amorim will be more likely to stick to his beliefs, as he plays his style of football no matter the opposition that is in front of him, which was seen when his Sporting Lisbon side demolished Manchester City 4-1 in the UEFA Champions League. Amorim had previously lost 0-5 to Pep Guardiola’s Man City in 2022 in the same ground, but did not change his style for this latest game, sticking to his principles, something Manchester United managers have not done. Amorim prefers to play a back 3 playing a 3-4-3 formation. Amorim's Sporting are characterised by a short-passing possession game, a three-at-the-back set-up and an aggressive pressing system facilitated by a high defensive line.

The Manchester United players may struggle to adapt to this system, as the are not used to high pressing and playing a high defensive line. Amorim himself has said that Man United will struggle to play like his Sporting Lisbon side stating “We cannot transport one reality to another, United cannot play the way we play, they cannot be so defensive. Of course it’s good to beat City. But I’ll be living in a different world, we’ll have to start from a different point.”

Man United’s Problems

Man United currently sit 13th in the Premier League and last season they recorded their worst ever Premier League finish, coming in 8th place. Amorim will have a huge job on his hands to turn the tide at Manchester United and close the gap to rivals Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal. SInce the Sir Alex Ferguson era Man United have struggled to capture success but have also struggled to give their fans an identity that they can get behind. The football under managers like David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and most recently Erik Ten Hag was boring and lacked excitement with a huge problem for United being scoring goals.

Last season in the Premier League Man United finished with a negative goal difference of -1 scoring 57 goals and conceding 58 times, something unheard of for a club like Man United. They finished on 60 points as did Newcastle United, however Newcastle had a goal difference of +23, scoring 85 goals, 28 more than Man United. This season Man United once again have a negative goal difference of -3, scoring 9 and conceding 12 in 10 games. Only 7 other clubs in the league this season have a worse goal difference than United. Amorim will need to bring excitement back to Man United as scoring goals is a huge problem.

Amorim will officially take over Manchester United on November 11th and his first match as manager will be on the 24th November away to Ipswich Town. Amorim will be Man United’s 7th permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013. Will it be lucky number 7 for Man United?

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