Manchester United’s return to the elite level has been delayed again. After opening the Ruben Amorim era with a draw and two victories, United came crashing back down to earth again at Arsenal on Wednesday.
The “storm” Amorim warned fans about in the build-up to the game manifested metaphorically and literally at the Emirates Stadium, as the Gunners ruthlessly exploited his side’s flaws on a rain-soaked pitch. In the end, United could have no complaints over the 2-0 defeat, which saw them drop back into the Premier League’s bottom half.
But the performance was by no means a disgrace. Arsenal did not have everything their own way, and the tension in the air was palpable until Jurrien Timber opened the scoring 10 minutes into the second half.
The United players are clearly buying into Amorim’s methods. The Portuguese has stressed the need for patience because he is a realist, which is refreshing after two years of delusional ravings from his predecessor, Erik ten Hag. However, there were more genuine signs of progress in north London, and the next time the two teams meet in the FA Cup in early January, it could be a very different story.
‘Controlling the game’
The first 45 minutes at the Emirates delivered very few talking points, with neither team managing a shot on target. United’s disciplined approach frustrated Arsenal, and their playmaker-in-chief Martin Odegaard struggled to influence proceedings due to constant pressure from Noussair Mazraoui.
Arsenal had scored 13 goals in their previous three matches, but barely had a sniff as the visitors slowed the game down while also enjoying a large portion of possession. Amorim was pleased to see his 3-4-3 system working again, as he told reporters after the game: “You feel it in the first half, in the environment of the stadium, that we were causing problems. We need to improve in a lot of areas of our game, but we were controlling the game.”
The players seemed to be drawing from the passion Amorim exuded from his technical area. He was constantly barking instructions and showed his approval whenever United executed his plan effectively, while also venting his frustration over any mistakes.
Method to the madness
Amorim is not afraid to tell it exactly like it is. He doesn’t make excuses for bad results and below-par performances, or try to hide the true motivations behind his team selection.
Eyebrows were raised when Amad Diallo, Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee were named on the bench for the trip to Arsenal. Rashford and Zirkzee had both scored braces in the 4-0 win over Everton three days earlier, while Amad was arguably the best player on the pitch.
There was more confusion when the three attackers were introduced as substitutes at the Emirates before the hour mark, along with teenage centre-half Leny Yoro, who made his first competitive appearance since his summer move from Lille. Mason Mount, Harry Maguire and Tyrell Malacia were all hooked early despite acquitting themselves well in the first half, but there was a method to Amorim’s madness.
“In this moment, it is impossible to play with the same team,” he said. “They [the players] have to feel they are part of the team, but we are changing the methodology, we are changing a lot of things. We are changing the way we play, the way we press, so we have to have all the players fit. We cannot have injuries in this moment because it will be tough to cope with all the games, so we will manage the way we feel is the better way for the team.”
Cut from same cloth as Ferguson
Communication is Amorim’s superpower. He’s an accomplished man-manager cut from the same cloth as Sir Alex Ferguson, right down to the way he conducts himself in front of the media.
Ten Hag used to fumble his way through press conferences, and often criticised his players in public, but every word that comes out of Amorim’s mouth is measured. Exuding natural confidence, he expresses his ideas and feelings coherently, even when faced with challenging questions.
It’s like he’s copying straight from the Ferguson playbook. “For a manager, no matter the result, at a press conference you need to come out as the winner,” the legendary former United manager said in 2015. “You can kill yourself in a press conference… It’s an important part of your job.”
According to the Daily Mail, Amorim was also seen as a ‘master trash talker’ in his time at Sporting CP. There was a glimpse of that darker side in midweek as he appeared to suggest that Arsenal are a one-dimensional team, saying: “On every occasion Saka and [Gabriel] Martinelli has one against one, they go outside, they cross. They know if the cross is going well, they can score. If it is a corner, they can score.”
Right man at the wheel
Ferguson always demanded the highest possible standards at Old Trafford, that’s why he was so successful for so long, and Amorim is bringing back those core values. Amad, Rashford and even club captain Bruno Fernandes were subjected to the hairdryer treatment as United allowed sloppy habits to creep back in during the second half of the Arsenal game.
Amorim wears his heart on his sleeve, and doesn’t suffer fools. Anyone found to be falling below his expectations will see their role in the team come under threat, which is exactly how it should be at a club the size of United.
