When I first heard about Ruben Amorim being linked with the Manchester United job, I was not sure at all. Living in Lisbon, I’ve seen him put together a superb squad of players and get the best out of them.
He plays football the way Manchester United fans crave and knows how to get the best out of his players.
However, I also knew the size of the task he was taking on and wondered how much he had thought it through. There is no question that Amorim is an ambitious manager and the opportunity to join a club like Manchester United, being responsible for turning them around and taking them back to the top of the game, was probably too good to refuse.
It was always going to be difficult when he first arrived – perhaps implementing his 3-4-3 system straight away was ambitious considering that he didn’t have the right personnel – add to the fact that he probably wants almost a whole new team as well.
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur reach Europa League final https://t.co/pEnNHMs11V
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) May 9, 2025
He probably did not expect to see the club hovering just above the relegation zone as well, despite having reached the Europa League final, ironically against fellow strugglers Tottenham. The question is whether this would save the club (and his) season, or paper over obvious cracks. Indeed, it will be interesting to see whether this is a different story next season and where the club finishes, while the top 20 betting sites with the most competitive odds are sure to have interesting reading on this.
What Needs To Be Done?
Frankly, Amorim has not had a transfer window yet, though with new chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe dramatically cutting costs at the club, the real question is how much the Amorim will have to spend. It appears obvious that he wants to axe a number of players and may have to rely on funds from sales.
The fact is that, he may need a couple of seasons at least to turn the club around – just like Jurgen Klopp did at Liverpool, though it can be argued that the Reds were not in as much peril that United are in.
Effectively, Amorim needs to strip the squad and go back to basics – there are probably only three players in the whole squad that could get into an Amorim system with the way he plays and it is embarrassing that one of those is approaching the wrong side of 30, yet whose talent and input cannot be questioned. That is of course, Amorim’s fellow Portuguese national, Bruno Fernandes, whom it appears the manager has leaned heavily on.
There were rumours that Fernandes could be going in the summer, with Real Madrid said to be circling, though I really could see Amorim leaving if he is sold.
This is a club that has lacked identity arguably, ever since Sir Alex Ferguson left and some bad decisions have left a squad squealing lack and limitation. Amorim can turn the club around – but he needs faith, time and some investment.