New Man Utd Manager: How United might line up under Ruben Amorim

Rumours were rife as to who would succeed Erik ten Hag as Manchester United boss in the aftermath of the Dutchman’s departure on Monday afternoon. Ten Hag had been a dead man walking for some time now but the 2-1 loss at West Ham on Sunday spelled the end of his time in Manchester. 

Ruud van Nistelrooy takes interim charge, with the former United striker to be in the dugout for the EFL Cup welcome of Leicester this week. However, United are closing in on a permanent successor with Ruben Amorim the first choice for the Premier League powerhouse. 

WhoScored+ is a Telegram service, and bets will be sent directly to your phone. 

Click here to claim a free 7-day trial today! 

Amorim is no stranger to Premier League links. He was previously on Liverpool and West Ham’s radar before the pair settled for Arne Slot and Julen Lopetegui, respectively. Manchester City were also a rumoured destination, albeit at the end of the season as Pep Guardiola’s successor at the Etihad Stadium. Hugo Viana’s appointment as Sporting Director from next season heightened rumours that Amorim would follow his compatriot to the blue side of Manchester. 

And yet it’s United who look to have won the race to land Amorim. Fans can expect a change in style from that under Ten Hag if the 39-year-old, as expected, does make the move to Old Trafford. Ten Hag has remained loyal to a 4-2-3-1 setup but Amorim found success in a three-man backline for Sporting. 

Utilising a 3-4-2-1 system, it’s a big difference in the style fans have become familiar with under Ten Hag. Crucially, though, is that Amorim, to an extent, has the relevant personnel to implement the system at Old Trafford. United are well stocked at centre-back following the summer additions of Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt, even if the former is yet to make a competitive appearance for United. 

De Ligt has experience in playing in a three-man defence from his time at Juventus, while Lisandro Martinez is perfectly suited to playing on the left of the backline. The issue, though, comes at wing-back. On the left side, Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw seem well suited to carrying out the duties Amorim would request, though their respective injury issues means nether can be relied upon to feature any time soon. 

On the right, neither Diogo Dalot nor Noussair Mazraoui boast the attacking impetus to help stretch opponents. That may see Amorim experiment with a more offensive option down the right, as he has done this season for Sporting, with teenager Geovany Quenda often deployed at right wing-back. Given the winger options for United, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see a more attack-minded wideman used at wing-back, with Amad Diallo, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho the stand out options. 

In the middle of the park, Manuel Ugarte will welcome Amorim’s appointment with open arms. The Uruguayan established himself as one of Europe’s top ball winners under the former midfielder, and he should partner Kobbie Mainoo in the middle of the park once the youngster returns to fitness. Casemiro has featured more frequently than many had expected this season and Amorim may use the South American duo in the middle of the park until Mainoo returns, particularly should he use a winger at right wing-back. 

Further forward, there is a potential selection dilemma behind the striker. Amorim has favoured Trincao and Pote behind goal machine Viktor Gyokeres, and while it’s a no brainer that Bruno Fernandes plays behind the frontman, the issue is whether Rasmus Hojlund or Joshua Zirkzee feature on the frontline. The latter could be a second number 10 alongside Fernandes, though the use of Trincao suggests Amorim will want a versatile winger in support of the striker rather than a second number 10, which potentially rules Christian Eriksen out as a partner for Fernandes. 

Mason Mount is another option, and he does have experience operating in a potentially narrow attack line owing to his experience with Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel, but if Amorim does want a winger to play in one of the two attacking support roles, then that leaves Amad, Rashford and Garnacho. 

Either way, United fans should be excited at the prospect of Amorim taking charge. His Sporting side have won all nine league games so far, and have scored more goals (30) than any other team in Liga Portugal, all the while conceding just twice. They rank top for shots per game (24.9), possession (65.4%), key passes per game (19), xG generated (24.43) and second for xG overperformance (+2.57) in Liga Portugal this season. It’s a far cry from Ten Hag’s United, with a huge xG underperformance and the joint-most big chances missed in England’s top tier contributing towards his dismissal.

With the hope he’ll be in the dugout for Sunday’s game against Chelsea, United fans can look forward to a home match for the first time in months should the Premier League side, as expected, confirm a deal for Amorim in the coming days.