Ruben Amorim says he expects his Manchester United side to be “more competitive in all aspects” as they prepare for Manchester United’s Monday Night Football clash with Everton, a year on from his first match in charge.
24 November 2024 Amorim got off to a good start against Ipswich, with Marcus Rashford scoring just two minutes later, but United pulled away and drew 1-1.
Looking back on that game ahead of the anniversary, Amorim says he quickly realized the magnitude of the task he had taken on. But he is quietly encouraged by the team’s progress this season, after what he called a “disaster” first season in which United finished 15th in the Premier League and lost to Tottenham in the Europa League final.
United are unbeaten in five games in the Premier League and sit sixth in the table ahead of this weekend’s match.
“Everything went really fast,” Amorim said of his appointment and approach to his first game as United manager.
“My first thought was that the environment was completely different. I was excited about it. I knew right away that I was going to struggle in some respects. But I had the feeling that this is the best league in the world, probably the best club in the world. But at the same time, this is a big job and it’s going to take a lot of effort.”
Monday, November 24th 6:30pm
Kickoff at 8pm
“We have shown it, but the important thing is that it doesn’t matter what we did in the last games. We must not forget that we suffered a lot at that point last year, so we have to take that into account and play every game like it’s the last game or the first game,” Amorim said of the team’s progress in his first year in charge.
“Of course, I expect a team that is more in control, more dominant, plays better football and, most importantly, is more competitive in all aspects.”
Amorim confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Benjamin Sesco will be out for “a few weeks” with the knee injury that forced him off in the final game before the international break, against Tottenham, and said the striker’s return could coincide with the departure of Brian Mbeumo and Amad Diallo for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Harry Maguire will not be fit to face Everton, but Koby Mainu could be back in time for Monday’s match.
Sky Sports’ Peter Smith looks back at Ruben Amorim’s 12 months in charge of Manchester United.
The good thing is…
It hasn’t been a memorable year for Manchester United supporters, but over the past six weeks there has been growing confidence that Amorim may finally be able to get the team back on the right track.
A first win at Anfield in nine years, a five-game unbeaten run in the Premier League and a flurry of goals were encouraging.
The end to an incredibly long wait for back-to-back top-flight titles suggests a consistency of team play that has so far been elusive – aided, of course, by a £232m summer spend and a shake-up of the squad.
Amorim’s first season had short-lived moments of joy – such as a late win at Manchester City, defeats over Real Sociedad and Athletic Club in the Europa League, and a frenetic extra-time victory over Lyon.
The hope now is that something more substantial and lasting will emerge.
But there have been so many bad and ugly moments that no United supporter should be getting carried away just yet, even on Amorim’s first anniversary.
…the bad and the ugly
Amorim himself has described his side as “probably the worst team” in the club’s history (more on the knockout quote later), and his 45 goals in 38 Premier League games is an unavoidable reflection of how his reign has gone thus far – poorly.
He has had the worst record of any of Sir Alex Ferguson’s successors, with his Premier League goals totals ranking United 14th out of 17 teams throughout his tenure.
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Manchester United head coach Amorim has responded to Cristiano Ronaldo’s uncensored Piers Morgan comment on YouTube, in which he criticized the club’s “structure” and said the current manager could not perform “miracles”.
There were many painful defeats along the way. Losing to Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham in the Europa League final was the most costly, with United not only missing out on the trophy but also missing out on Champions League qualification and the financial reward that came with it.
In addition, Postecoglou’s own tactical changes were the key to Spurs’ victory, and the loss further amplified criticism of Amorim’s stubborn adherence to a 3-4-2-1.
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Former Manchester United defender Jonny Evans, who played in Amorim’s first Premier League game, talks about what it was like playing in a 3-4-3 system.
Everything got off to a good start two minutes into Amorim’s first game as manager at Ipswich, when Marcus Rashford tucked in a brilliant low cross from wing-back Amad Diallo. However, Sky Sports’ Roy Keane said there was a “real lack of quality” by the end of the 1-1 draw, while Rashford’s form and commitment, and that of other players, will be a big issue as well as the formation.
There were many miserable and painful defeats at Old Trafford, with the home fans watching as they lost to Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Wolves and West Ham in the league, and to Fulham on penalties in the FA Cup.
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Amorim talks about his upcoming first anniversary at Manchester United, reveals tough times but insists taking the Old Trafford job was ‘the best decision of my life’
On that famous pitch, Amorim stood apologizing for May’s “disaster season”. Luke Shaw said it was “unacceptable” at the end of a historically bad campaign. After the assault in Bilbao, Sky Sports’ Gary Neville implored him to “get a better grip on that club”.
But Amorim’s most embarrassing moment came when he arrived at Grimsby in August. Disturbing footage showed the head coach crouching in the dugout, frantically rearranging pieces on a miniature tactics board and plotting to knock his team out of the Carabao Cup to the Ligue 2 hosts.
More brutal defeats followed against Manchester City and then Brentford, but Amorim crawled off the canvas. He and Manchester United have bounced back so far. But will the knockout blow come or will they be able to bounce back from the punishment they have received?
Amorim’s best and most brutal quotes
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Amorim responds to whether he has been contacted by the Pope after he says he has no intention of changing Man United’s formation
“If you want to win the Premier League, you have to run like a mad dog. If you don’t, you’re not going to win.” – Amorim’s rallying cry as he took charge of United. His team ranked 14th in distance traveled and total sprints last season.
“We’ve won two out of 10 Premier League games. We’re probably the worst team in Manchester United’s history. I know you want headlines, but I’m saying that because we have to admit it and change it. Look, the headlines.” Amorim made a surprising assessment of his side in January, before they finished in 15th place, bottom of the Premier League.
“I would put[Manchester United goalkeeper coach Jorge]Vital in front of a player who is not giving his all every day,” Amorim’s cruel words when asked about Marcus Rashford being left out of the matchday squad for the game against Fulham in January. Vital was 63 years old at the time.
“If the board or the fans decide I’m not suitable, I’ll quit the next day. But I’ll never quit again. I’m confident in my job. As you can see, I’m not going to change anything about my approach.” Amorim stands by his approach even after losing to Tottenham in the Europa League final.
“Sometimes you want to quit, sometimes you want to be here for 20 years… sometimes you hate the players, sometimes you love the players. This is how I am. So will I. In that moment I was very frustrated.” Amorim explained after the loss at Grimsby what he meant when he said: “The players spoke really loudly today.”
“When you win it’s not a system problem, when you lose it’s a system problem.” Amorim has been furious at continued criticism of his 3-4-2-1 set-up after September’s defeat to Brentford.
