Even Guardiola won’t win the Premier League with Manchester United. Souness on Amorim entrance and Man Utd situation.

Let’s start with a thought experiment: what if Pep Guardiola took charge of Manchester United’s current squad?

Could he turn them into Premier League champions? Maybe they’d be marginally better, but it’s hard to imagine United instantly rising to the top. The truth is, they’d still be far from reaching that level. This question comes on the heels of yet another turbulent week for United, in which Erik ten Hag was let go after being given both time and resources, with Ruben Amorim from Sporting Lisbon set to be his replacement.

Amorim’s move to United is a huge leap, especially given United’s current struggles. For many, this is still the most iconic club in football, but it’s in the midst of a rough patch—the worst since the Premier League era began. It’s no wonder Amorim couldn’t pass up the opportunity, but the task ahead of him is enormous, and it certainly won’t be a smooth ride.

One of the main challenges he’ll face is the quality of the squad he’s inheriting. United has fallen significantly behind clubs like Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City. To start bridging that gap, two things must happen: a few of the younger players need to break through and prove themselves at the highest level, and Amorim will need some serious luck in the transfer market. Rebuilding won’t happen in just one or two windows, and as with any big club, time is never on the manager’s side.

Amorim has shown a knack for keeping his team sharp, winning two league titles with Sporting Lisbon over the last four years. Winning a league title, as I’ve often said, is a truer mark of a manager’s quality than winning any cup. Before he arrived, Sporting hadn’t won the league since 2002, so his track record is promising.

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Amorim at Man Utd

But even if Amorim is the perfect fit, he won’t succeed at United unless the club improves its recruitment approach. This is, in my view, the most critical aspect for any football club to get right, yet United has consistently struggled with it. Since Ineos got involved with the club, some of their decisions—like parting ways with Ferguson and bringing in players this summer who may not be capable of lifting the club to the top—have raised eyebrows. This is Ineos’ first chance to appoint a manager, and they’ll be hoping they’ve finally gotten it right. Patience from fans is wearing thin.

With their recruitment history in mind, Amorim will likely push for a say in transfers going forward. He’ll need high-quality players who can make an impact immediately. Beyond skills, they’ll need a strong mentality. Too many players in the current United squad seem to buckle under the pressures of playing for such a high-profile club. Some look like they’re carrying an invisible weight on their shoulders, and it shows.

It’s worth not reading too much into United’s recent Carabao Cup performance against Leicester, a team fighting just to stay in the Premier League. Yet the improvement under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy highlighted the potential boost that comes with a fresh managerial approach. The squad did seem more energized, which is a good sign of what a new manager might bring.

On a personal note, I got back in the water this week for the first time in ten months after undergoing shoulder surgery. It was easily the toughest injury I’ve faced. I rejoined my old Channel swim team, whom I last swam with a year ago, and let’s just say they didn’t give me the gentle re-entry I was hoping for.

My teammates are ex-military types who see themselves as high-performance Ferraris and Porsches in the water. Meanwhile, I’m more of an old diesel engine with a couple hundred thousand miles on the clock! We’re prepping for another charity swim across the Channel this coming May, after last summer’s attempt was postponed due to challenging tides and weather. My first 20 minutes back in the water with our leader, Andy, went well. It was a gentle start, but it felt like a big step forward after a long recovery period.

Getting back to Amorim, I don’t think his age is an issue. At 39, he’s already achieved a lot, and he’ll arrive in Manchester with confidence, ready to replicate his success. His first priority will be to get the dressing room on his side. Within the first week, the players will have figured him out and decided whether they buy into his leadership. His personality will be essential in making a good first impression, and from what we’ve seen, he has a confident demeanor that should serve him well.

Amorim might turn out to be fantastic for United, or he may find the role overwhelming. Personally, I’m hoping for the former because, let’s be honest, football benefits from a strong Manchester United. But here’s another question worth considering: how many players from the current United squad would make it into the starting line-ups of Liverpool, City, or Arsenal if those teams were at full strength? For me, the answer is none—and that’s the challenge facing United’s next manager.

His Opinion for Rodri

In other football news, I’m thrilled that Rodri won the Ballon d’Or. This award often goes to star forwards, the headline-makers like Messi and Ronaldo, or the greats from my era, such as Keegan, Rummenigge, and Platini. Only recently has the pivotal role of a holding midfielder been truly appreciated for its contribution to a team’s success.

Holding midfielders do a lot of unseen work, often missed by casual observers. The best in that role do a little of everything, and sometimes they even add goals to their repertoire. While goal-scoring was never my priority, protecting the defense was key. It’s great to see Rodri get the recognition he deserves, though I believe he’s capable of achieving even more.

(Article written by Fotnet24 referring the the Souness article. Original thoughts: Graeme Souness)