How Rúben Amorim’s Manchester United could play
An exercise for the current Red Devils squad ahead of the January transfer window
Rúben Amorim arrived at Sporting on March 5, 2020. Frederico Varandas paid 10 million euros to SC Braga to bring the coach, the same amount that the Lions are now receiving with his departure to Manchester United , even after two championships, two League Cups and a Super Cup won at the helm of the Lions. This is the value of the termination clause, which the Red Devils , with Amorim’s consent, deposited in the bank account of the Alvalade club. It seems like a small amount for the biggest figure in the success of the green and whites in recent years.
Bruno Fernandes had left Alvalade on 29 January, just over a month earlier. Raphinha , Thierry Correia , Bas Dost, Domingos Duarte , Jonathan Silva, Iuri Medeiros, Carlos Mané, André Pinto and Romain Salin, among others, had left at the start of the season, with Marcel Keizer, who preceded Silas (Leonel Pontes still made the transition during four matches) and the current coach.
If the first few months were mainly spent getting to know the players better, with bets on young players such as Eduardo Quaresma , Nuno Mendes and Matheus Nunes , the following summer, in the first attack on the market, Pedro Gonçalves , Bruno Tabata, Feddal, Nuno Santos , Adán and Antunes were secured on a permanent basis, as well as João Mário , on loan from Inter , Pedro Porro , from Manchester City , and Rúben Vinagre, from Wolverhampton , the latter with a mandatory purchase clause.
Paulinho – Tiago Tomás and Jovane were playing as centre-forwards; Sporar ended up on loan to SC Braga and then Middlesbrough, before leaving permanently in 2022 for Panathinaikos –, João Pereira and Matheus Reis would complete the range of signings in the second window, in January. Wendell, Acuña , Matheus Pereira, Luciano Vietto, Rosier , Alan Ruiz and Battaglia were transferred.
Over the first few months, Rúben Amorim has been freeing himself from the heavyweights, possibly the most inflated egos, making room for players closer to the profile he wanted and also for the establishment of the best players in the academy. This will be the work that awaits him at Old Trafford, in addition to the obvious implementation of a 3x4x3 formation that he has stuck to since the first steps of his career.
A Manchester United 11 in 3x4x3 (an exercise)
At Manchester United , the pressure will obviously be enormous, although the urgency to win titles has been diluted, since Old Trafford has become a graveyard of coaches since Alex Ferguson. The transfer window is closed and Rúben will have to adapt to what he has. Exactly as happened when he arrived at Alvalade.
In goal, André Onana has not escaped some criticism, but his performances for the Italian side Inter are proof of his abilities: a competent goalkeeper between the posts and with the technical ability to participate in the first phase of construction, although sometimes with excess confidence.
With Leny Yoro on the verge of recovery after his injury in his debut, the Portuguese coach has at least one piece of good news for the start. If the 18-year-old Frenchman is still not fit, Lindelof may be the one to occupy the right-back position. It is believed that Rúben Amorim will see Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt as solutions for the central midfield, and also remembering how the three defenders have greatly helped Coates ‘ development , the Englishman’s extra five centimetres, even taking into account the Dutchman’s performance in recent years, could give him an unexpected advantage. In the centre-left, there is the left-footed Lisandro Martínez , who makes up for his short stature with good elevation, concentration and resilience, and Luke Shaw , who, being an adaptive player, could also be used there.
On the right wing, Dalot and Mazraoui appear . Perhaps the Moroccan’s greater explosiveness will end up convincing the coach, but it is not a given. On the left, Malacia is still recovering from a serious injury, Luke Shaw is not exactly convincing and the young Harry Amass, aged 17, could quickly enter the equation. Or perhaps it will lead the Portuguese to think about Álvaro Carreras sooner than expected? Without a doubt, this will be a position to strengthen as soon as possible.
Manuel, are you here?
In midfield, Manuel Ugarte is an old acquaintance and a trustworthy man, even if the competitor is Casemiro , with all his status in the team and in the football world. And Amorim will need a number 8. Who could be Kobbie Mainoo , in the style of Matheus Nunes , or Eriksen , more like a João Mário
Who will be sacrificed?
It is up front, in the attacking trio, that the biggest doubts may remain. Bruno Fernandes should be the best suited to replace Pedro Gonçalves , especially to put into action his powerful shot and the passes that look for areas close to the far post. Then, who will take Trincão ‘s place ? Garnacho , a right-footed player who usually plays more on the other side? The left-footed Diallo and Antony ? The Ivorian has sometimes been played in by Ten Hag, while the Brazilian is one of those players with a huge ego that is difficult to tame. A type that the Portuguese coach has managed to avoid dealing with too often. And Rashford ? Where will the Englishman end up?
In fact, Rashford is the big question mark. With Hojlund and Zirkzee as options for the number 9 position, what will Rúben do? The Dane is an explosive forward – will Gyokeres ‘ experience make him opt for the same Nordic line –, the Dutchman is more of a linking element, with technical refinement, and the Briton is a sprinter with a clinical finish.
Will Amorim once again make that move back into the field that he envisioned at Alvalade, making Manchester United consistent at the back and even more reactive in the transition to the opposing goal? Or is he willing to give up some principles to adapt part of the model to the players? One thing is certain: the current solid, self-assured and controlling Sporting took more than five years to build. Dynamics take time. And it is precisely time that Rúben Amorim will have to start winning from the start.
