Ruben Amorim has told Manchester United fans he will do everything to bring the good times back to the 20-time English champions.
United’s new coach has been charged with ending more than a decade of decline at Old Trafford since former manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and its Premier League dominance fizzled out.
Amorim, hired from Sporting Lisbon earlier this month, is the sixth permanent manager hired by the Red Devils since Ferguson retired after winning his 13th league title.
David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag all failed to return United to the summit of English and European football in a period when Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City has dominated domestically.
Nevertheless, the 39-year-old Portuguese is embracing the challenge and said, “I will try to do everything to put this club in the place that it belongs. And I believe a lot that we are going to succeed.”
It is unlikely Amorim will change that this year after coming in partway through a season in which United made its worst league start since 1986. Having been appointed as successor to Ten Hag, Amorim took charge at Old Trafford over the international break and his first game as United manager will come away at Ipswich.
The incoming Man Utd boss has hinted that he will stick to his favoured 3-4-3 tactical approach at Old Trafford, focusing on high pressing and possession.
Questions are already being asked of how the Red Devils will line up under their new boss, with Amorim suggesting that he will tinker slightly with United’s current system – as he moves to three at the back, rather than the two centre-halves approach that has been in place for some time.
He has said when quizzed on his plans:
“I know how I am going to play in the beginning, because you have to start with a structure that you know. Then you will adapt with the players that you have, some injuries, or no injuries, what kind of players have the abilities to defend, attack, I will discover that in the next few weeks. We don’t have a lot of time to train, so I have to show something that I know very well. You can take whatever you want from that.”
Amorim typically attacks in a 3-2-5 shape and then defends as a 5-2-3 – radically different to United’s system under Ten Hag. In fact, his absolute commitment to his playing philosophy was reportedly among the reasons proposed talks with Liverpool broke down.
He oversees possession-based attacking football, but there is a pragmatism to his tactics as well that focuses on defensive structure. United often lined up in a 4-2-3-1 shape under Ten Hag but criticism remained that no clear style of football was on show.
By contrast, Amorim has adapted his 3-4-3 formation so that every player has clearly defined roles when in and out of possession. His teams are typically flexible between playing in a low block – (a compact defensive shape focused on protecting the space close to the goal) while aggressively pressing when out of possession.
What is more constant is that in his 3-4-3 formation, attacking wing-backs are key in all thirds of the pitch. Amorim has used two defensive midfielders to cover for his wing-backs – who push high up the pitch and stay wide to form a 3-4-2-1.
This also allows his two attacking midfielders to drop into pockets behind a lone striker while still stretching the opposition’s backline. The close proximity of teammates in and around the centre-forward also allowed Amorim’s Sporting side to go direct, with passes into Viktor Gyokeres who would hold up the ball before laying it off, with the position of the high wing-backs also leading to regular switches of play.
How current Man Utd players would fit into Amorim’s plans
Like Ten Hag, he intends for his goalkeeper to be active in the build-up phase, with Andre Onana’s ability on the ball vital.
In possession from a goal kick, the central defender of Amorim’s back three will join the midfield line at the tip of a diamond. That three-man midfield creates better passing angles for the ‘keeper and his remaining two defenders to work the ball wide and get forward.
His starting back three would likely consist of Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, and Leny Yoro – with Harry Maguire also comfortable in that system when fit. Manuel Ugarte, who flourished under Amorim at Sporting will relish returning to his role as the defensive shield of a double pivot.
The Uruguayan will be joined by one of Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount or Christian Eriksen to provide the creativity in possession, but Casemiro offers an older head if needed.
On paper, Amorim’s system doesn’t operate with a No.10 but his compatriot Bruno Fernandes would likely start from the right, and the key to Fernandes dropping into central areas behind Rasmus Hojlund will be the overlapping wing-backs.
Diogo Dalot or Noussair Mazraoui will compete for that spot, with Alejandro Garnacho vying with Amad Diallo and Marcus Rashford in the final third.
Amorim’s blueprint for success served him well at Sporting, as he collected two Portuguese titles in Lisbon. United have shown signs of improvement over recent weeks – with interim coach Ruud van Nistelrooy overseeing a four-game unbeaten run – but it remains to be seen how they react to a change in formation.
If all goes well for Amorim’s side, a top-four finish is not too far-fetched as the Red Devils are only four points behind the Champions League places.
They might even be able to pick up some silverware along the way but for now, they will have their sights set on Saturday’s away game at Ipswich to hand the new gaffer a perfect introduction to English football.
