Rúben Amorim has received praise from a former Arsenal star as Manchester United prepare for another tough stint in the Premier League.
Manchester United recently came up to one entire year under current boss Rúben Amorim, as they attempt to bounce back from an embarrassing 15th-place finish last season.
Heavy investment in the final third saw the arrivals of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Šeško over the summer; meanwhile, there were icy departures for Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford, who did not have the best time under the Portuguese manager.
Amorim has been persistent in his 3-4-2-1 shape since he arrived at Old Trafford, leading to significant doubt from pundits and fans, but the overall morale of the club seems to have improved.
Recent injuries have forced Amorim to pivot away from his tactical style, therefore catching the attention of even more eyes as pressure continues to mount on his shoulders.
One former Arsenal star has spoken out about how Amorim had such an impact on him in such a short space of time.
Bellerin praises Amorim’s management at Sporting CP
Former Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin has come out with an honest opinion of Amorim through their time together at Sporting CP.
Speaking to FourFourTwo, the 30-year-old stated, “Football-wise, my time in Portugal was tough, but I learned key lessons. I found a great coach in Amorim, who, for me, is part of the new school of coaches.
“He was very good at the simple side of the game, and I loved his ideas as a coach. It was really good to learn from him […] I picked up so many concepts that I’ve taken with me to this day.”
Amorim has suffered mountains of criticism since his arrival in November 2024, despite the argument that all of his signings, so far, have not been failures at United.
However, his decision to prioritise the Europa League over the Premier League to secure Champions League football, only to lose the final in a disappointing 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, can only be seen as a poor story so far.
2025/26 is the season for change
Having already been eliminated from the Carabao Cup to League One side Grimsby, and having no European football to play for, this season has forced Amorim into making changes to his side as they continue to hunt down a Champions League finish.
Injuries to captain Bruno Fernandes as well as AFCON departures for Amad, Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui have led to positional changes all over the team. Therefore, fans can believe in Bellerin’s optimism and have patience with Amorim.
United gave Wolves their third point of the season in an embarrassing 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, which saw Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu go back to left-wingback despite shining at right-wing against Newcastle United. Meanwhile, Joshua Zirkzee found himself often tracking back into a right-wing-back position.
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Fans can see changes in profiles in the squad, but inconsistencies still remain in results since Amorim came to Old Trafford. Changes to the formation would be refreshing to the team’s performances, but not at the sacrifice of particular players’ strengths.
Nonetheless, Amorim’s management is to be admired in a short-term environment, and with time, he has proven what he can achieve.
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