Ruben Amorim at Manchester United: The Story So Far

Ruben Amorim’s Record Compared to Other Manchester United Managers

Amorim has been in charge of Manchester United for more than 20 games in all competitions. So, how does his tenure compare with other Manchester United managers of recent times?  

Here’s a comparison of the win percentages after 20 games of all the coaches that Manchester United have had since Sir Alex Ferguson: 

Statistically speaking, Amorim has been Manchester United’s worst manager in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. After 20 games, he has the same win percentage as Ralf Rangnick, but he has lost five more games than the German.

Interestingly, the only recent Manchester United manager with a worse record after 20 games is none other than Sir Alex Ferguson. It’s easy to forget, but the legendary Scottish manager was nearly dismissed after a hugely disappointing start to his United career after leaving Aberdeen.

The Manchester United directors famously gave Ferguson time to build his own team and turn things around on the pitch. Will Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the other United board members follow suit with Amorim?

Amorim Seems to Have the Full Backing of the Manchester United Board

In an enlightening recent interview, Sir Jim Ratcliffe spoke at length about various topics and issues relating to Manchester United. One of the most positive aspects of the interview was his keen backing of Amorim despite the difficult start the head coach has endured in the dugout.

Understanding the squad issues and the fact that Manchester United are undergoing a period of significant upheaval on and off the field, Ratcliffe said: “If I actually look at the squad which is available to Ruben, I think he is doing a really good job, to be honest. I think Ruben is an outstanding young manager. I really do. He’s an excellent manager, and I think he will be there for a long time.”

This seems to be far more than a vote of confidence. It’s more like an assurance that, though things aren’t ideal on the pitch, Ratcliffe thinks that Amorim is the man to lead the club forward. Of course, time will tell, and fans will likely reserve judgement on the Portuguese coach until the start of next season.

But without a doubt, results must improve. While Manchester United aren’t in a relegation battle – this looked likely at one stage of the season – they’re still much further away from the top of the table than the bottom.

Amorim’s Immediate Future: What Can We Expect?

Manchester United’s immediate future will see a lot of change, both on the pitch and behind the scenes. The club is also planning a move away from Old Trafford and may even play at their new stadium in five years from now.  

So, if we use this as a milestone, what can we expect from Amorim between now and the end of United’s time at Old Trafford if he’s still in a job?  

Manchester United’s main issue is that they have an ageing squad that, by Jim Ratcliffe’s own admission, is predominantly overpaid and over-valued.

Though Manchester United actually have the sixth-youngest squad in the Premier League, the first team has too many players coming to the ends of their careers on huge contracts. The likes of Harry Maguire, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, and Victor Lindelöf are on the wrong side of 30 and will need to be moved on to finance moves for younger players.

There’s also the issue of recent arrivals failing to live up to their hype. You could make a fair case that Mason Mount, Noussair Mazraoui, Rasmus Hojlund, and Joshua Zirkzee have significantly underperformed since arriving at the club. Amorim will need to get a tune out of these players if he’s to be successful, as he won’t have unlimited funds to put things right in the next transfer market.

It will be interesting to revisit this article in one year to see how he has addressed the on-field issues. He will have to get things right in the summer transfer window, and moving out as many of the overpaid and underperforming players on his team will likely be his biggest priority.

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