Can Ruben Amorim Save Manchester United’s Season?
A New Chapter: Amorim to Rebuild the Foundations at Man United
If there is one surefire way to endear oneself to the Old Trafford faithful, it is to inflict as much pain possible on their cross-town rivals Manchester City, who have been the dominant force in the English Premier League since the departure of Alex Ferguson, now over a decade ago. To that end then, Ruben Amorim is already a fan favourite as one of his last acts as the manager of Sporting Lisbon was handing Pep Guardiola’s side a thumping 4-1 defeat in the Champions League less than a month ago.
Amorim has risen to become one of the most sought-after managers in the world in the last couple of years, largely due to his ability to transform his now-former club into one with an exceptionally solid base, which helped them win 11 games in 11 in the Portuguese top flight this term, averaging a remarkable 3.5 goals per game.
The Portuguese tactician has already got to work in that regard at his new home too, bringing five of his compatriots with him to Manchester to join the existing first-team coaches Darren Fletcher and Andreas Georgson. Amorim’s entourage includes Carlos Fernandes (assistant head coach), Adelio Candido and Emanuel Ferro (both first-team coaches), Jorge Vital (goalkeeping coach) and Paulo Barreira (physical performance coach). With his backroom in order, the Man United head coach will be confident about making an instant impact when he takes charge of the Red Devils in his first match this weekend.
Manchester United are set to face newly promoted Ipswich Town on Sunday afternoon, and you can check out our in-depth Premier League predictions for Amorim’s debut right here on SportyTrader!
Bet on the Man United vs Ipswich TownEstablish a Clear Playing Philosophy and Tactical Identity
While Erik ten Hag led Man United to two titles during his reign, the Red Devils never really nailed down a specific style of play. The team often followed up impressive attacking displays with thumping defeats - such as the 7-0 and 3-0 losses to arch-rivals Liverpool, a 6-3 hiding by the Citizens, and more recently, a couple of 4-0 drubbings by Brentford and Crystal Palace.
Amorim is believed to be set to deploy a back three for his first match against the Tractor Boys this weekend, with two industrious midfielders - likely including new signing Manuel Ugarte - to provide an aggressive, ball-playing shield in front of the backline. This tactical shift is expected to enhance defensive stability, which is something that United have lacked in recent seasons.
Indeed, the days of Andre Onana launching the ball upfield due to a lack of short passing options look to be numbered. Amorim’s signature diamond patterns, which were a key feature of his Sporting side, are set to be implemented swiftly to help United retain possession and move the ball up the pitch with greater purpose and ambition.
Stay up to date with all Man United’s progress under their new boss with SportyTrader’s Premier League Livercores and Europa League Livescores throughout the 2024-25 season.
Bet on the Premier LeagueUnlock Potential and Reverse the Results
Not all players will make the final roster under the new boss, and some will inevitably be excluded. This is one of Amorim’s main responsibilities, as he must determine which players will remain for the foreseeable future and which need to be moved on since there are far too many players cashing ridiculous cheques at the end of each week, but are failing to live up to the standards.
Maintaining clean sheets will be a crucial step for the 39-year-old, but he will also have to balance that with integrating the positive aspects of his former club’s play into his new team's performances. Amorim’s Sporting side took 6.9 more shots in the danger zone than they conceded prior to his departure this season, which is the best differential across 63 of the best leagues in the world and ahead of the likes of Man City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
Although Man United are currently languishing in 13th place in the Premier League, they are only four points behind the coveted Champions League qualification spots. Arne Slot’s side currently holds a five-point lead at the top of the league table because they’ve managed to pick up points even when they are not playing at their best. If the Red Devils can emulate that consistency, they could quickly climb up the standings and re-enter the race for European qualification.
Think Man United can clinch Champions League qualification this season? You can lock in Premier League odds of 6.0 for the Red Devils to finish in the top four with Bet365 ahead of this weekend’s fixtures.
