Man Utd still promise much but fail to deliver under Ruben Amorim, as one player’s “criminal” choice will lead to his decline in the hierarchy and eventual departure…
Ruben Amorim led his Man Utd team to the Basque area of Spain on Thursday night for his 25th match at the helm, likely feeling as though it were his 250th.
It's difficult to accept that the 40-year-old is merely four months into his tenure at Man Utd, which has been filled with drawbacks and only a few positives.
Several of the highlights have occurred in the Europa League, where four of his ten victories have been achieved.
Manchester United's departure from the FA Cup over the weekend compounded their difficulties in the Premier League, with shameless media outlets throughout the continent eagerly pushing the 'sack' narrative. In truth, we remain far from having this as a significant discussion.
It’s difficult not to feel at least some sympathy for Amorim, who anticipated a much-needed break against a considerably underwhelming Real Sociedad team in the first leg of Man Utd’s Europa League knockout match on Thursday evening.
On the surface, Man Utd's tie with Real Sociedad seemed quite challenging, but the guests benefited from the home team's lingering effects of their decisive 4-0 defeat to FC Barcelona over the weekend.
The first half was uneventful, with the Red Devils having a slight advantage as Sociedad did not manage to get a shot on target.
Man Utd’s defense-oriented strategy indicated they were content with a draw, which is reasonable. However, Sociedad's absence of danger prompted Amorim's team to push forward as they slowly built confidence and dominated the game.
United ought to have been ahead at halftime as Aritz Elustondo made a superb block on Bruno Fernandes’ shot, before they wasted a few opportunities to score from the rebound.
The away team scored soon after the restart when Alejandro Garnacho's advance and pass to Joshua Zirkzee led to the goal-deficient forward scoring from the box's edge, aided by some mispositioning from goalkeeper Alex Remiro.
Yet, just as the Red Devils seemed set for a crucial win, they managed to undermine themselves when Real Sociedad – who had contributed nothing – were awarded a penalty due to Bruno Fernandes handling the ball in the box.
Spain’s Euro 2024 star Mikel Oyarzabal confidently struck the penalty, prompting Man Utd’s fans to exclaim: ‘Oh f***, not this again.’
Orri Oskarsson had the chance to change the game when he missed a close-range shot in the last ten minutes, allowing Man Utd to avoid defeat and secure a 1-1 draw.
When he joined Man Utd, Amorim radiated optimism and wore a broad smile, showcasing the charisma that was desperately missing from his predecessor.
However, Amorim – similar to the countless prominent players who suffered a decline after signing with Man Utd post-Sir Alex Ferguson – has been affected by the pervasive issues at Old Trafford.
The rising head coach seemed to attract top European teams eager to hire him, yet he imprudently agreed to manage a struggling club, following INEOS in taking on more than he can handle.
Man Utd's limited January transfer funds and poor recruitment have hindered Amorim's beginning, though he isn't blameless in this situation. One of the six errors he’s committed since taking over from Erik ten Hag – including the acceptance of the position initially – is his determination to maintain his preferred 3-5-2 formation and displaying no willingness to alter it during a crisis.
This set of players does not fit this system, and he’s inviting issues as he tries to instill it in them during the relentless matches in the Premier League and cup tournaments.
Man Utd struggled under Ten Hag, but they've appeared even worse since Amorim's arrival, lacking rhythm in their play and possessing a mediocre (at best) attack.
January acquisition Patrick Dorgu is already raising pre-flop concerns and Diogo Dalot is falling short.
At the moment, watching Man Utd is quite difficult as Amorim’s team lacks spark and cannot play intuitively. Everything appears quite shocking and forced, with their significant downfall highlighted particularly in matches against mediocre (to be generous) rivals Fulham and Real Sociedad, where they struggle to capitalize on opportunities.
Zirkzee and Hojlund have justifiably faced criticism for their performances this season, as they must contribute more goals. However, they are hindered by insufficient backing from those behind them.
The sole occasion Dalot appeared to be a genuine threat in the attacking third was when facing Trent Alexander-Arnold, and his struggle to adapt to this system was revealed during a first-half incident at Real Sociedad.
Dalot received the ball during a quick counterattack, and his appropriate next move was an easy square pass to Hojlund, who likely would have scored.
Instead, he passed the ball back to Garnacho before Dorgu ultimately shot over it. Robbie Savage criticized the right wing-back’s "unacceptable" choice during co-commentary, while Paul Scholes described the incident as “criminal” at halftime.
Both were fitting judgments in a situation that should have instantly made Amorim excited about reuniting with £50m Sporting Lisbon talent Geovany Quenda, who has already “verbally agreed” to sign with Man Utd in a transfer that should help facilitate Dalot's exit after he drove another nail into his coffin at Real Sociedad.
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