When Ruben Amorim lands in Manchester, he has a monumental job ahead—cleaning up a mess and restoring order to a struggling Manchester United squad in a limited timeframe.
Amorim, a world-class coach known for his impressive tenure with Sporting Lisbon, is walking into a tough situation. His Sporting teams have been known for their extreme fitness and relentless pace, and United’s players are far from meeting those standards. There will be a lot of ups and downs before the January transfer window, and Amorim will need to be ready to “sweep up” and implement drastic changes.
Expectations are high, especially after United spent over £10 million to bring Amorim and his team from Portugal. However, the transition won’t be easy. Erik ten Hag’s previous approach reportedly created division within the team, and United’s Carrington training base is said to be fractured.
To transform this squad, Amorim will need to establish new fitness standards, refine nutrition programs, and overhaul gym routines. The team may initially struggle with injuries as they adjust to these intense changes. Amorim’s quick hiring also spared United from turning to Ruud van Nistelrooy, which would have followed the familiar pattern seen under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United’s recent 5-2 win against Leicester in the Carabao Cup is a classic “new-manager bounce,” yet it’s not sustainable for the long haul. Though the recent performance might give the board hope, it’s clear United’s deeper issues require a thorough rebuild.
Looking ahead, United faces a favorable schedule, including Chelsea, PAOK, Bodo/Glimt, and others in the Premier League and Europa League. Wins here could paint a short-term positive picture, but tougher fixtures, like those against Arsenal, Manchester City, and Spurs in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, will reveal the underlying challenges.
A key piece of advice for Amorim? Don’t keep Ruud on the coaching staff. To bring genuine change, he needs a fresh start with his team around him, free from past associations. Only with a clean slate can Amorim tackle Manchester United’s issues and guide the club toward real progress.