The Ruben Amorim era is underway at Manchester United.
Ruud van Nistelrooy has successfully steadied the ship as interim boss since Erik ten Hag's sacking and Amorim now inherits a much more settled scenario than was the case two weeks ago.
Amorim acted swiftly to decide to go forward without Van Nistelrooy as part of his staff. The Dutchman's exit was confirmed hours after Amorim arrived at Carrington for the first time as head coach.
There are plenty more issues at Old Trafford for Amorim to address, though. Here, Sky Sports runs through some of the more pressing ones as he begins work in his new job after leaving Sporting.
Establishing three-at-the-back formation
Amorim's formation has been the biggest talking point since his appointment was confirmed. Throughout his four-and-a-half years at Sporting, he has never stepped away from playing a back three.
The most pressing task facing Amorim on the training pitch before his first game at Ipswich on November 24 - live on Sky Sports - will be figuring out who can fulfil the specialised roles in this formation and familiarising the players with his system. Time is against him.
United are well-stocked at centre-back having signed Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt in the summer, but the wing-back position feels like a potential problem area, with few players standing out immediately as ideal for the role.
Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot are the obvious candidates. The returning Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are too but, based on their injury records over the last year, it might be difficult to rely on them.
Amorim tends to use a more attack-minded player on one side, often someone that inverts on to their stronger foot, which raises the possibility of some of United's many wide forwards being converted into a wing-back.
Restoring confidence
Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, the United shirt has weighed too heavy, hampering results and turning world-class players into flops. Finding a way to address this, and the seemingly toxic environment around United, must be a priority for Amorim.
His record at Sporting would suggest he has the skills for the job, having unified the club after years of instability. Transferring that to United is not a given, though. More experienced coaches than the 39-year-old have tried and failed to do so.
Amorim's handling of the scrutiny since becoming star of the United soap opera bodes well. Navigating an awkward mid-season exit at a club close to his heart, Amorim has remained jovial and connected well with the media. He seems to be a people person.
The reverse was a common criticism of his predecessor. If Amorim can translate these skills to the dressing room and find the right balance of restoring confidence while commanding the authority to establish his principles, then he might be onto something.
This squad may not be good enough to challenge for titles, but with a different approach, as seen under Van Nistelrooy, we may well see performance levels improve. INEOS stumped up more than £200m on signings and will want to see more of a return.
Getting the goalscorers firing
United's two strikers, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, signed for a total cost of £108m over the past two summers, have scored a combined three goals in all competitions this season.
Unsurprisingly, Amorim's arrival at Old Trafford has brought with it a barrage of speculation about Viktor Gyokeres, Sporting's star striker, and a potential move to Manchester. He has, in contrast, scored 23 goals in 19 games this season.
The earliest United could sign Gyokeres, if he were to choose to follow Amorim, would be the summer, as his departing boss ruled out a January move. And there is no certainty that United will pursue the Sweden striker either.
Amorim will need to find a way to make do with the tools at his disposal.
Hojlund, still just 21, has endured a frustrating start to the season, often finding himself isolated and lacking in service, even when performances improved under Van Nistelrooy. Finding a way to get the Denmark striker more service will be key.
Save for a run of six consecutive scoring games last season, Hojlund has been patchy since signing from Atalanta. There is still faith that he can turn things around, but the longer his struggles continue, the more likely United are to look elsewhere for a solution.
Zirkzee, meanwhile, has not scored since his debut goal against Fulham in the first Premier League game of the season. The Netherlands striker has impressed dropping into midfield, but so far failed to show the killer instinct required to be United's No 9.
Amorim's upcoming Man Utd fixtures
Ipswich Town (A) - Premier League - November 24, live on Sky Sports
Bodo/Glimt (H) - UEFA Europa League - November 28
Everton (H) - Premier League - December 1
Arsenal (A) - Premier League - December 4
Nottingham Forest (H) - Premier League - December 7, live on Sky Sports
Viktoria Plzen (A) - UEFA Europa League - December 12
Manchester City (A) - Premier League - December 15, live on Sky Sports
Tottenham (A) - Carabao Cup - December 19, live on Sky Sports
Bournemouth (H) - Premier League - December 22
Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) - Premier League - December 26
Newcastle United (H) - Premier League - December 30, live on Sky Sports
Jayaimnz
0
Welcome to the problem team
everyone is a mistake u're not a good person don't be jealous because jealous is poison
Jayaimnz
0
if you seen a good thing to your friend plz lean to preciat don't be jealous because jealous is poison
msiwela07
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CR7 fan base had nothing go to do with the sacking. He got sacked cause he didn't get results due to the players missing sitters which really they shouldn't be missing, Dalot literally missed an open goal in ten hag final game don't matter what position you play you can't miss from their but Dalot did cause he's not that good, ten hag made good signings only one that didn't work was Antony. But better signing than what previous managers brought in, but the thing is we created chances and clear goal scoring opportunities the players just failed to score which got the manager sacked in the end. Was a good manager just got unlucky with 75 injuries the season before, nd players missing easy chances. Other than that made good signings, got rid of Ronaldo and de gea which needed to be done. De gea kick outs led to many goals, long balls to Ronaldo led to many goals but people didn't see that, the just wanted to blame the manager. Unfortunately the manager loses his job when in reality it should be the bad players who cost us points each week. Hopefully Ruben doesn't get the same unfortunate luck as ten hag.
thank you big brother. i had the feeling that the media ,former Manchester United players and cr7 fans all ganged up against Ten Haag because of the fallout with their goat. i had a feeling again that players like Dalot and Rashford were deliberately missing chances and underperforming
gm11
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the cr7 fan base made sure ETH was sacked. I'm sure the new manager will benefit from what has been built by ETH as we have seen with recent matches , the new players are now getting used to their team mates and the results are coming. the team created a lot of clear chances but didn't score. you can't blame a coach for the players missing sitters you can only blame him if the team doesn't create clear goal scoring chances
CR7 fan base had nothing go to do with the sacking. He got sacked cause he didn't get results due to the players missing sitters which really they shouldn't be missing, Dalot literally missed an open goal in ten hag final game don't matter what position you play you can't miss from their but Dalot did cause he's not that good, ten hag made good signings only one that didn't work was Antony. But better signing than what previous managers brought in, but the thing is we created chances and clear goal scoring opportunities the players just failed to score which got the manager sacked in the end. Was a good manager just got unlucky with 75 injuries the season before, nd players missing easy chances. Other than that made good signings, got rid of Ronaldo and de gea which needed to be done. De gea kick outs led to many goals, long balls to Ronaldo led to many goals but people didn't see that, the just wanted to blame the manager. Unfortunately the manager loses his job when in reality it should be the bad players who cost us points each week. Hopefully Ruben doesn't get the same unfortunate luck as ten hag.
Hosbdemntz
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Casemiro nd ERicksen they must get out from men u please
fidaoprst
2
I WISH YOU GOOD LUCK
fidaoprst
2
GOOD APP ENJOYING
wewbikmorz
2
You are welcome our new coach
pazcdnptu
0
Welcome to the problem team
Adeyemi7883
4
All this issues will be forgotten soon. In Amorim we trust… GGMU
msiwela07
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If we are talking about this season then yeah Missing sitters and open goals was the reason we drop points, ten hag brought ruud in he done his bit bringing him to help with scoring, the players still couldn't hit the target that's on them not ruud teachings or ten hags. Yeah you expect too much that's why, we got 6th with Ronaldo, ten hag comes in had balls to drop Ronaldo we all of a sudden play better and get 3rd spot with a cup which is better than previous managers, he then goes through a season with 75 injuries then plays the best team currently in England and beats them with all odds against him, handful of fans and even the owners against him but he pulled it off. Never heard a manager challenge for the league or champions league with 75 injuries in a season. Look a city prime example a few injuries and guess what? They start to slip up and drop points, give pep as many injuries as ten hag did bet he do just as bad.
the cr7 fan base made sure ETH was sacked. I'm sure the new manager will benefit from what has been built by ETH as we have seen with recent matches , the new players are now getting used to their team mates and the results are coming. the team created a lot of clear chances but didn't score. you can't blame a coach for the players missing sitters you can only blame him if the team doesn't create clear goal scoring chances
Benteke081
1
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What is Zirkzee and Reshford doing there 😡
wuccdins
1
This stupid app since you know the problem what are you waiting for why can’t you get this crazy job and fix all that problems
gm11
0
So they where not scoring cos of ten hag,I didn’t like this guy before he even became our coach,he was just too quiet for United,he doesn’t have the DNA for United
If we are talking about this season then yeah Missing sitters and open goals was the reason we drop points, ten hag brought ruud in he done his bit bringing him to help with scoring, the players still couldn't hit the target that's on them not ruud teachings or ten hags. Yeah you expect too much that's why, we got 6th with Ronaldo, ten hag comes in had balls to drop Ronaldo we all of a sudden play better and get 3rd spot with a cup which is better than previous managers, he then goes through a season with 75 injuries then plays the best team currently in England and beats them with all odds against him, handful of fans and even the owners against him but he pulled it off. Never heard a manager challenge for the league or champions league with 75 injuries in a season. Look a city prime example a few injuries and guess what? They start to slip up and drop points, give pep as many injuries as ten hag did bet he do just as bad.
Maubcptuyz
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Fairly we needed to change the coaching situation,new part owner he had to fire Ten hag after winning the FA cup...,like how they fired Van gaal soon after winning the FA cup they fired him...you delayed and cost us points,hope the new coaching department will make it better,I like the fact he came with his friends,that’s good
Moyes,Van gaal,ten hag,radnick just the w front type of our football club.....Mourinho and Ole are the only coaches after Sir Alex to have passion and the right DNA 🧬
Maubcptuyz
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Ten hag never cost us points, the players did they are the ones missing the sitters. Blame the players rather than ten hag. Only two games we deserve the L was Liverpool nd Spurs this season.
So they where not scoring cos of ten hag,I didn’t like this guy before he even became our coach,he was just too quiet for United,he doesn’t have the DNA for United
gm11
0
Fairly we needed to change the coaching situation,new part owner he had to fire Ten hag after winning the FA cup...,like how they fired Van gaal soon after winning the FA cup they fired him...you delayed and cost us points,hope the new coaching department will make it better,I like the fact he came with his friends,that’s good
Ten hag never cost us points, the players did they are the ones missing the sitters. Blame the players rather than ten hag. Only two games we deserve the L was Liverpool nd Spurs this season.
Maubcptuyz
4
Fairly we needed to change the coaching situation,new part owner he had to fire Ten hag after winning the FA cup...,like how they fired Van gaal soon after winning the FA cup they fired him...you delayed and cost us points,hope the new coaching department will make it better,I like the fact he came with his friends,that’s good
Maubcptuyz
0
You need Ugarte cos he can defend
Maubcptuyz
1
[image]
Not a balanced team
yodaeinopy
4