Can Amorim Lead Man Utd Back to Their Previous Position?
Last week, Ruben Amorim transferred from Sporting CP to Manchester United, replacing Erik ten Hag. This Sunday at 00:30 (UK time), he will lead Manchester United in their match against Ipswich at Portman Road.
Amorim’s task looks tough. The team is currently 13th in the Premier League, with just 4 wins from their first 11 games. However, they are only 4 points behind third-placed Chelsea. The rules of the Premier League give every team the potential to recover and move up the table.
So, can Ruben Amorim bring this possibility to Manchester United? Let’s analyze his coaching history and style to find out.
Ruben Amorim’s Coaching Career
Amorim’s coaching career began in 2018. After spending a brief time at Braga and Casa Pia, he moved to Sporting CP, where he showed his coaching talent.
In his first season at Sporting CP, he led the team to their first league title in 19 years and set a national record with 32 unbeaten games. Six players from Sporting CP were named to the Primeira Liga Team of the Year, and Amorim was awarded the Primeira Liga Coach of the Month in April and the Coach of the Year.
In 2021-2022 season, he also took the team to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, the club’s first time since 2008-09. And, Amorim became the fastest coach to reach 50 victories in the Primeira Liga after beating Tondela 2-0 at home.
In 2024, Amorim was named the Primeira Liga Coach of the Month for August, September, and October. At the same year, Sporting Lisbon’s football director Hugo Viana replaced Txiki Begiristain as Manchester City’s football director. This led to rumors that Amorim might become the successor to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. However, he signed with Manchester United shortly after.
Amorim’s Tactical Style
Before becoming a coach, Amorim was a midfielder who could defend and attack. As a coach, he prefers using a 3-4-3 formation, focusing on solid defense with two midfielders protecting the backline. He also uses wing-backs to provide attacking width and flexibility. His teams focus on high pressing, aiming to quickly win the ball back in the final third and create counter-attacking opportunities.
Amorim’s philosophy is that a team should function as a whole, not just as the sum of its parts. He emphasizes team spirit and ensures every player feels important.
He is also known for nurturing young players, giving them opportunities and integrating them into his tactical system.
Amorim has mentioned that his tactical style has been influenced by José Mourinho, who he considers one of his biggest mentors. Amorim prefers to think about the game the way Mourinho does, especially when analyzing opponents and preparing for matches. Mourinho was the Manchester United coach from 2016 to 2018 and is widely regarded as one of the best managers in recent years.
Given this, can Amorim’s new tactics solve Manchester United’s current problems?
Can Manchester United Adapt to Amorim’s New Tactics?
Statistics show that Manchester United’s average goals conceded per game last season was 17.34. This season, they have only conceded 11 (ranked fourth in the league). In open play, they have conceded only 7 goals, the second-lowest in the league.
What Manchester United needs to improve is their attack. They are ranked 17th in goals scored from open play. This is because they take an average of 13.9 shots per game, ranked 9th in the league, and their non-penalty expected goals (xG) is 1.51 per game, ranked 7th. In other words, they are not creating enough chances to score consistently.
Ruben Amorim has recognized this issue.
In his last press conference with Sporting CP, Amorim hinted that he would start using his 3-4-3 formation at Old Trafford.
Amorim’s 3-4-3 relies on central progression. The wide center-backs either pass directly to the two forward playmakers or to the wing-backs, who then move the ball forward. The wing-backs will pass the ball back into the center, and midfielders will pass it to attacking players. This is very different from Manchester United’s usual style, which focuses more on the wings.
Additionally, Manchester United lacks players who can quickly move the ball forward, like those at Sporting CP. This could greatly impact the effectiveness of Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation.
Another issue is that the 3-4-3 formation is not common in the English Premier League. Some teams have used it in the past but eventually abandoned it, possibly because they found it unsuitable for the Premier League.
Most Premier League teams currently use formations like 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. Compared to these, Amorim’s 3-4-3 could bring a fresh change to the game, but it also runs the risk of not fitting the current football environment.
No matter what, let’s look forward to this Sunday and see if Ruben Amorim can lead Man Utd to a win with his new tactics.
Where to watch Ipswich vs Manchester United? Check here.
