A Year After Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd Debut: Is United Finally Turning a Corner?

Ruben Amorim’s arrival at Manchester United was highly anticipated, but his decision to leave Sporting CP mid-season wasn’t taken lightly. After finally making the move, he wasted no time getting to work at Old Trafford.

He arrived at Carrington during a chilly November international break. With most of the squad away on international duty, Amorim and his coaching staff immediately began to impart his vision to those who remained. Central to his plan was a tactical overhaul, a system drastically different from that of his predecessor, Erik ten Hag.

Amorim’s Vision: A System Overhaul

“From the moment he came into the club, he was very clear on how he wanted to play, the system he wanted to play,” recalls veteran defender Jonny Evans. “He laid that out immediately.”

Evans continues: “We were on an international break at the time when he came in. He sat down with the squad and showed us. There were obviously a lot of players missing, and as soon as they came back, he sat them down and showed them.”

This week marks the anniversary of Amorim’s managerial debut for Manchester United, a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town in November 2024. This match provided the first glimpse into Amorim’s plans, but also exposed the challenges he faced.

“Everything was really fast,” Amorim remembers. “The first thought was the environment was really different in the Premier League, and I was excited by that. Right away, I knew we would struggle in some things.”

Identifying the Problems: Fitness and Possession

Even before meeting the squad, Amorim had already identified key areas for improvement through video analysis. He observed that the team under Ten Hag frequently lost possession and lacked the necessary fitness to win the ball back effectively. The first half against Ipswich offered a glimpse of individual brilliance, with Amad Diallo setting up Marcus Rashford for an early goal. However, Ipswich equalized before halftime, exposing United’s underlying issues.

“I think we have to improve the physical aspect of the team,” Amorim stated after the game. “I think we lose the ball too often and we have to keep the ball better. We have to be better when we run back.”

Compounding the problem was the limited preparation time – just two days to implement a new system. Players admitted to struggling with the tactical shift, highlighting the steep learning curve. Diogo Dalot even noted that while Amorim’s message was clear, putting it into practice would take time.

Intensive Training and Tactical Drills

In the lead-up to the Ipswich game, Amorim dedicated significant time to refining the team’s shape in Carrington’s academy building. These sessions, previously focused on warm-ups, became intensive tactical drills. Amorim personally guided the players, often physically repositioning them to ensure proper execution.

“We didn’t have much time because it was the middle of an international break when he came in,” Evans explains. “The majority of the players didn’t meet up until the Thursday and the game was a Sunday, so we only had a couple of days working on it.”

“It was a new system, so we were getting used to it at the time. Once or twice on the press, he was wanting us to be a bit more aggressive. I was looking over to ask, ‘Am I doing the right thing here?'”

Amorim sensed the players were overthinking during the game, leading to confusion. “It was really hard for them; they were thinking [about] what to do,” he said. “It was not fluid, which is normal after just two training sessions.”

One Year Later: Signs of Progress?

The issues exposed against Ipswich weren’t immediately resolved, leading to a disappointing 15th-place finish in the Premier League. However, as Everton prepare to visit Old Trafford on Monday, there’s a growing sense that things are, as Amorim hoped, “getting better.”

The transformation is evident in the squad composition: only six players who started against Ipswich remain at the club. Key summer signings like Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have accelerated United’s development, and the system is gradually becoming more fluid and less confusing.

Amorim acknowledges that while he initially preferred starting the job in the summer, the mid-season opportunity allowed him to make crucial early decisions. This enabled a fresh start this season, reinforced by the preseason tour of America.

Building a Team: On and Off the Pitch

The preseason tour emphasized team bonding alongside intensive tactical sessions. This was a continuation of initiatives started even before the Ipswich game, such as replacing small tables with larger ones in the team hotel to encourage interaction and prevent cliques. Amorim also prefers addressing the entire squad rather than individual players, fostering a collective mindset.

While there was no dressing room debrief after the Ipswich game, Amorim isn’t afraid to address the team when necessary. However, he prefers to wait until emotions have settled before providing feedback.

Currently, Amorim is riding a five-match unbeaten streak, fueled by the understanding that the short-term pain of last season was a necessary step in the ongoing rebuilding process at Old Trafford.

“I think we are showing [the team is different], but the important thing is that it doesn’t matter what we did in the recent games,” Amorim said on Friday. “We cannot forget that we started at that point [against Ipswich], we suffered a lot last year, so we have to take that into account and play every game like it’s the last one.”

“But of course, if you ask me, I expect a team [against Everton] with more control, more dominance, playing better football and, the most important thing, more competitive in every way.”

One year after his first game, Ruben Amorim hopes Manchester United can continue their journey back to the top of English football. Will they finally turn the corner?

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