Ruben Amorim has officially taken charge at Manchester United. Within a day he has taken one big decision and is likely to make many more as he accepts the responsibility and pressure to take the club back to the top.
It was announced that interim manager Ruud Van Nilsterooy has departed the club after four matches in charge. While, there was belief that he would stay as an assistant manager, Amorim has obviously decided against it.
The Portuguese has two weeks of international break before he can get to work with the majority of the first team squad. Till then, he will familiarize himself with the staff, board, and overall culture.
Once the players are back, he has about six weeks until the winter transfer window opens. During this brief period, Amorim will have to make decisions regarding who to retain and who to sell.
Most likely, the winter transfer window might not be the best time to buy players. However, the club might have the opportunity to offload redundant players and trim the squad.
Some players who will have their futures under the scanner will include Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Antony, Mason Mount, and even summer signing Joshua Zirkzee.
The likes of Shaw, Malacia, and Mount are technically good players to have in the squad, but have poor injury records. It might make sense to replace them altogether in the summer if their problems still persist.
Antony is arguably the biggest flop in Manchester United’s history, with the club having wasted 80 million euros in the process. They will be lucky to recoup even 20 million euros for the Brazilian fidget.
Casemiro was signed with big expectations in the summer of 2022, and was influential in his first season. However since then, the former Real Madrid midfielder has seen a massive dip in his form. With a younger and more agile Manuel Ugarte in the squad, it probably makes sense to part ways with the Brazilian in the summer.
Christian Eriksen is a player who has all the qualities to succeed under Amorim. His passing, composure on the ball, and elite ball carrying abilities make him one of those unique players who can play across midfield. However, age and fitness are not on his side.
Then there is the questions regarding Joshua Zirkzee. The young Dutch striker was signed in the summer from Bologna with huge expectations but has only scored one goal so far. His overall lack of threat in the box is concerning, but has time on his side.
These are just a few players who most fans are already thinking about. The fact is every single player will be under scrutiny. Every single department will be under the scanner for a mass overhaul.
Whether fans like it or not, this and most likely next season will be that of transition. To change a behemoth like Manchester United takes time and money. Luckily, the club has both with Ineos backing the process every step of the way.
Fans will be patient to a large part but would demand some tangible progress on the pitch. They want to see the players playing attacking football.
The underlying stats over the last 18 months have been atrocious to say the least. Man Utd have underperformed on ever possible metric, though they have two trophies to show for it.
The Ruben Amorim era officially begins at Manchester United. Let us hope it doesn’t end like the eras before him.
