It has been a positive start to life at Manchester United for new head coach Ruben Amorim, with a feel-good factor returning to the North West.
A 1-1 draw at Ipswich was followed by a deserved win against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League and a 4-0 thrashing of Everton in Sunday’s Premier League encounter.
It hasn’t gone unnoticed that United look more structured under the Portuguese tactician, and his plan for the team is already starting to show on the pitch.
The victory over the Toffees was the Red Devils biggest Premier League win since a 5-1 hammering of Leeds United back in August of 2021 during the tenure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Momentum building under new man
While Amorim needs to get wins on the board as soon as possible, it’s also crucial that the players buy into his ideas, too.
So far, this seems to be the case, thankfully.
The former Sporting boss has given everyone a fair chance to gain minutes and pursue an understanding of how his system works.
A clear and consistent playing style has been sorely missed since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013 – something fans and pundits can identify and acknowledge.
So far, under the stewardship of the 39-year-old Lisbon native, the team does seem to be sticking to a particular game model, and while nowhere near perfect, this is a sign of progression.
Transparency brings buy-in from players
One of the standout features from Amorim’s reign so far has been his honesty and clarity.
That is evident when explaining tactical decisions to the media or advising players where to improve constructively.
He has shown himself to be consistent in his approach to date, and the players seem to be responding well to it, displaying determination and a newfound energy in their play.
Whether this approach will prove successful remains to be seen, but it has been a good start.
Focus on performances, not just results
The two-time Primeira Liga-winning coach stated that one should focus not only on results but also on performance in the short term.
It will be intriguing to see if he can cultivate a high-level product on a game-to-game basis that the players and supporters can start believing in.
If the team plays well over a sustained period, then results generally tend to follow, so this will be something the tactician will be keen to deliver.
‘Ruben Amorim’s red and white army’ rang around the Theatre of Dreams from full-time after Sunday’s win as the Portuguese boss took the acclaim of the Stretford End.
The mood has been lifted around M16, and optimism currently fills the air – with a trip to old rivals Arsenal up next on Wednesday night.
A logical supporter knows that now is not the time to get carried away, and there will be far sterner tests, starting at the Emirates.
But an unbeaten run of seven with five wins is far better than the doom and gloom of days gone by.
What have you made of Ruben Amorim’s first couple of weeks in charge in Manchester?
Let us know in the comments or across our social channels.
Recent Posts
- Theatre of Red official podcast | Episode 34 | Jerry Kelleher
- Manchester United 3-1 Southampton | Five Talking Points
- Amad leads Manchester United to victory against Southampton
