Written by 
Samuel – November 11, 2024
Ruben Amorim has been on the radar of prominent European teams since his managerial success with Sporting CP in 2020.
The Portuguese manager had a successful stint with Sporting, where he made a name for himself after guiding the club to a League title in 2020/21 season, which was their first League title in nineteen years. He also won the League title in 2023/24 season, as well as the Taco de Liga trophy in 2020/21 and 2021/22 season.
With all of his achievements as a young manager, Manchester United hired him as their head coach after Erik ten Hag was fired for his terrible start to the season, which left the Red Devils in the bottom half of the League table and winless in the UEFA Europa League.
Ruben Amorim’s appointment will take effect on November 11, 2024, and the club’s administration and fans see him as the ideal man to lead the club’s project.
Therefore, we will examine how the appointment of Ruben Amorim can revitalize Manchester United and restore the club to its former glory.
Tactical Fit
Ruben Amorim is well-known for his winning mentality, transition style of play and tactical versatility in the popular 3-4-3 formation.
Amorim typically employs three center backs who are situated on the defensive line, ready for any counterattack from the opponent. However, when defending against an opponent, the formation changes to five defenders, with the two midfield wing backs joining the defensive line.
Wing backs are pivotal in Amorim’s tactical philosophy since they help creating chances while still being solid defensively. The formation is more focused on chances from the wings and the wingbacks play an important role in that scenario, similar to how he deployed Pedro Porro and Nuno Mendes prior to their departure.
Furthermore, he forms a midfield duo with a defensive midfielder and an offensive central midfielder. This allows the team to be effective in transition and breaking the opponent’s press with interchanging movements that distract the opponent’s players and create room for the attackers to capitalize upon, while defensive midfielders must be able to read the game at a high level as well as be accurate with ball tackles and recovery to assist the team in attack transition.
In the same vein, Amorim’s formation necessitates his wingers’ pace and ability to take on a defender in a one-on-one situation, allowing them to cut in between opposing defense line and push for a goal or set up the striker to score.
His tactical concept is incomplete without a lethal striker capable of burying every opportunity, as his tactical strategy create loads of chances for his box predator and it’s no surprise to see Viktor Gyokeres bagging goals galore.
Unlocking Potential
Ruben Amorim is generally recognized with his ability to foster young players and develop them to their full potential, as evidenced by players such as Nuno Mendes, Pablo Sarabia, Pedro Goncalves and Viktor Gyokeres during his time at the club.
He joins a Manchester United squad that has elite players who require adequate coaching and guidance to reach their full potential. There are some key players who we believe will be critical in getting the most out of his 3-4-3 setup:
Diogo Dalot’s ability to play as a wing back is likely to make him an important player in Amorim’s squad. His attacking prowess will be pivotal in breaking down opponents’ defenses as a wing back.
Secondly, Bruno Fernandes is a player Amorim would love to have in his starting eleven. The Portuguese midfielder is one of the best attacking midfielders in the League, recognized for his line-breaking passes and goal-scoring abilities, which will be beneficial in the Amorim setup.
Furthermore, Alejandro Garnacho is a stunning talent that requires the right manager to bring out the most in him, and Ruben Amorim could be the perfect manager for the job. Amorim will benefit from the Argentine forward’s pace and scoring abilities on the wing.
Amorim Potential Impact on Manchester United
Ruben Amorim’s philosophy is an excellent fit for Manchester United squad, and we expect the Red Devils to play some exciting football under the Portuguese boss.
Manchester United are currently in the bottom half of the League table, posing a significant task for Amorim in achieving a top four finish before the end of the season.
One of the conditions for Amorim will be Champions League qualification following a terrible past season for the club under Erik ten Hag, in which they only qualified for the Europa League owing to FA Cup triumph against Manchester City.
Although, this will be an uphill battle for him, as he will be competing against top teams in England, but with the club’s squad depth and his tactical prowess, as revealed in Sporting CP’s 4-1 Champions League victory against Manchester City, we believe he is well suited to the challenge.
The Red Devils have previously lacked a manager capable of instilling a long-term winning mindset in its players, and we believe a straight forward and disciplined coach like Amorim can restore that mentality, given his four years success at Sporting CP.
Verdict
Ruben Amorim, like any new manger, needs time to imprint his philosophy in the team’s style of play, which necessitates patience from Manchester United fans. Considering his achievements at Sporting, we anticipate him replicating similar success at United and return the club to its golden days.