Ruben Amorim’s image at Old Trafford is enjoying an upward trajectory at present, but one of the tactician’s decisions exactly one year ago drew the ire of a Manchester United legend
Things are on the up at Manchester United as Ruben Amorim’s stock enjoys a resurgence entering the international break. However, the fact remains that not all the manager’s decisions at Old Trafford have gone down a treat.
That much became clear after one Red Devils icon critiqued Amorim’s decision not to re-hire one of his former team-mates. And it’s not only past United players whose impression of the coach is changing.
Those in the current United dressing room have reportedly altered their stance on Amorim following one fiery reaction. Mirror Football breaks down all that and more in the latest United headlines.
Amorim axe decision upset Rio
Rio Ferdinand didn’t shy away from questioning Amorim’s call to not employ former team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy following his arrival at Old Trafford. And as fans look back upon the manager’s first year in charge at the Theatre of Dreams, some may wonder if things would have shaped up any differently with the Dutchman on board.
Van Nistelrooy previously made a positive impact on the squad as part of Erik ten Hag’s backroom staff, then briefly led the team as interim manager following his countryman’s dismissal. Amorim opted not to keep Van Nistelrooy on as he wanted to bring in his own staff, something that irked United great Ferdinand.
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Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand said: “His [Van Nistelrooy’s] audition couldn’t have gone any better and I think, knowing him, there was a steely determination underneath that said, ‘I’m going to put myself in the best position, either to stay at the club in some capacity or someone else is going to say we need you as a manager.’ He looked the part and he produced.
“The players needed that. We’re in a time where there was a lot of turbulence, the manager’s [Ten Hag’s] relationships with some players seemed fractured and irreversible, and the fans seemed to have made their minds up that that was it.
“And the new manager comes in – and you always get that bounce – but this seemed a bit different from a bounce. The players had grown to really like him, they appreciated how he informed them of different bits and pieces – tactically, individually, as a team – and there was a genuine ‘we want to do well for this guy.'”
Utd squad change stance on Amorim
Positive change can sometimes be found in the negatives. Amorim found that out first-hand when the United squad responded positively to him smashing up a TV screen in the dressing room following defeat to Brighton last season.
For the most part, Amorim comes across as a composed character who is rarely flustered in front of the cameras. But that serenity has its limits, it seems, and the players found out just how furious their boss can get following a 3-1 loss at home to the Seagulls.
But rather than recoil, it was reported that a number of United stars looked favourably upon the reaction. It emerged the outburst left many with a better impression of just how much Amorim cared about the club’s results, even if his body language didn’t always communicate it.
His own version of Sir Alex Ferguson’s hairdryer treatment had the intended impact of stirring some sense of fight within the playing staff. However, they’d perhaps do well to keep Amorim from trashing too many tellies, given United’s current budget constraints.
Ferdinand calls United ace “a joke”
On the back of being named the Premier League’s Player of the Month for October, it’s evident Bryan Mbeumo is loving life in Manchester. And suffice to say, Ferdinand is loving what he’s seen of the Cameroon international.
With four goals in his last four games for United, there are few at Old Trafford who can rival the winger’s current run of form. And Ferdinand was gushing in his praise of the attacker after he has helped pull United through their recent run of positive results.
“Mbeumo has been a joke,” said the United icon on Rio Ferdinand Presents. “He’s really stepped in there and become a mainstay. He’s someone who can give you two or three seconds on the ball to relieve pressure. He can score important goals and create chances.
“I saw Thomas Frank’s comments about him the other day, and Mbeumo nearly being a complete winger. I think by the end of this season, he’ll be one of the most complete wingers in the Premier League because he can do everything. He just needs to consistently do it in a United shirt.”
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