Opinions
Rúben Amorim has two traits that Erik ten Hag didn’t – they will benefit Manchester United
It now looks set that Rúben Amorim is going to be the next Manchester United manager, in something that has felt destined for a few years now.
Rúben Amorim has been liked by Manchester United for a number of years and there has always been a feeling that a move to a top Premier League club was close. Now, INEOS are close to getting someone they clearly believe will be their man, and United fans are optimistic that he can turn it around.
Tactics and coaching are things that can be discussed. But there are a few particular qualities Amorim has, which Erik ten Hag – in his own right an excellent coach – didn’t possess, ones which will serve him well in this role and could take him further than Ten Hag ever went with United.
Read More: Mainoo, Collyer, Yoro – What will Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United side look like?
These qualities are personal rather than technical or tactical, they are his character and his communication. Amorim is an extremely charismatic figure who motivates and inspires players brilliantly, and his communication skills are excellent.
He is already comfortable with the English language and United’s strong contingent of Portuguese speakers will further help him to settle in.
As a character, Erik ten Hag could be quite flat and uncharismatic. This did not always come across well to fans and did not always do the best to inspire players. Julian Nagelsmann famously once said that coaching is “30% tactics, 70% social competence” and from my own coaching experiences I can speak a lot about the importance of character, communication, relationship management, etc.
Amorim’s ability to motivate players and make them believe will be key to generating buy-in for his style at Manchester United and bringing the fans on board early. His communicative skills will also clarify his game instructions, which was not always the case with Ten Hag.
It will also inspire more from players in tough moments. United have had a few games this season, most notably Palace and West Ham away, where they are very strongly on top of the game but just can’t find the net and eventually fizzle out, almost losing hope in themselves.
A manager who instills confidence in them could keep them going in these difficult moments and inspire them to eventually break through, a trait that made the United of old so successful.
Coaching isn’t and never has been the biggest problem at United. The toxic culture cultivated under the previous sporting regime has always been the biggest issue, and work is being done to fix this, but there is still a long way to go.
Benni McCarthy recently spoke about how the training sessions at United were always incredibly high quality under Ten Hag, but come matchday, it all went out the window, and players seemed lost.
In part, this is down to a deeper psychological problem stemming from the club’s toxic culture. But the manager’s character and ability to communicate can make a big difference in overcoming this issue, and Amorim is amongst the best in world football in these areas, whereas Erik ten Hag was lacking despite his fantastic coaching qualities.
Amorim is an exciting appointment for several reasons, but for me, these two are the most significant tools he has that can give him success at Manchester United.
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