Ruben Amorim sparks ‘shock’ at Man United, major ‘worry’ already emerges
Ruben Amorim has caused major concern already as he may not fully understand the scale of the challenges at Man United, according to Paul Merson.
Under the new manager the Red Devils have so far have failed to defeat Ipswich, who are 18th in the league with only one Premier League win this season, drawing 1-1 on 24 November. They also struggled to beat Bodo/Glimt 3-2 in the Europa League four days later, a team that had never scored against an English side before.
Merson was “shocked” by how poor United were after going ahead early against Ipswich through Marcus Rashford and is already worried about the Portuguese.
The former Arsenal man suggested the new boss didn’t know what he was walking into live on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (30 November, 1.22pm): “We knew that, did he? I don’t know, I ain’t sure about that.
“As a manager you’re looking from a distance and you might think, ‘Oh it ain’t that bad, the players don’t like the manager’. It shocked me how far they were off [at Ipswich]… there’s so much work to be done.
“My biggest worry out of all of it was the interview after, when he said, ‘That’s it now I’ve never done so many interviews, now I’ve got to concentrate on the team.’ No. You’re manager of one of the biggest clubs in the world of football. You will do interviews when they ask you to do interviews, and you’re told to do interviews. That was the one worry that I think he’s got to cope with.”
Currently sitting in 12th place, The Red and White Army face Everton at Old Trafford this weekend (1 December), and are six points off the top four.
Ruben Amorim is the right man to lead Man United
Football Insider opinion
Under the Portuguese boss’ guidance Rasmus Højlund has already shown significant improvement, scoring twice in the Europa League, looking explosive, sharp and having a clinical edge to his game which he previous lacked under Erik ten Hag.
Amad Diallo thrived in a wing-back role against Ipswich, showcasing his pace, power, and versatility, while providing an assist for Rashford, who also impressed with a goal.
Amorim’s emphasis on fluid, high-pressing, possession-based football has seen Noussair Mazraoui flourish as a centre back, while Diogo Dalot has benefitted from tactical clarity in defence.
The former Sporting Lisbon boss’ style demands intense work off the ball, quick transitions, and full-back involvement in attack, and although the squad is still adjusting, his methods will take time to fully take shape. There is a promising vision, but patience is key for the transformation.
So on the pitch there shouldn’t be much to worry about as long as Amorim is prepared to deal with the intense off-pitch pressures of being in charge at Old Trafford.
In other news, Danny Welbeck has spoken out about recent Man United transfer links.
For more Man United news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.