Manchester United is reportedly close to finalizing the appointment of Sporting CP head coach Ruben Amorim to succeed Erik ten Hag.
As the news stirs excitement and anticipation among fans, Sky Sports’ Paul Merson weighs in on the challenges the young Portuguese coach will face and what needs to happen for United to truly contend for the Premier League title.
Merson started by praising Amorim’s impressive record with Sporting, saying, “He’s done amazing at Sporting. But this will be a different ball game. No disrespect, but managing United is five steps up.” At Sporting, Amorim had to focus mainly on beating rivals like Porto and Benfica. At United, he’ll face a whole new level of scrutiny and pressure that comes with managing one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Comparing Amorim’s situation to Ten Hag’s arrival at United, Merson warned that “brilliant” results abroad don’t guarantee smooth sailing in England. “We saw it with Ten Hag,” Merson noted. “He was brilliant at Ajax, but here, you win one, draw one, lose one, and you’re immediately under pressure.”
According to Merson, the task Amorim faces is massive. United’s current position—seven points from the top four—underscores how far behind the club has fallen from competing at the very top. Merson stressed, “They’re one of the biggest clubs in the world, but on the pitch, they’re just an average team right now. There’s a lot of work to do.”
With that in mind, Merson doesn’t see Champions League qualification as a realistic goal this season. He went as far as to say that if Amorim manages to clinch a top-four finish, it would be “a stunning season of coaching” and joked, “If he gets top four, he should get knighted by the king!”
For Amorim, Merson says the real priority when he joins United is to instill a clear style of play and get the players on the same page. This, Merson believes, is something Ten Hag struggled to achieve during his time at United. “They’ve lacked an identity on the pitch for so long,” he explained. “Amorim needs to come in, make his ideas clear, and get them working as a team.”
Merson sees Amorim’s first big challenge as getting United to play with a shared purpose and identity. “They don’t press together as a team,” he said, adding, “Right now, I don’t think anyone could confidently say what United is trying to do tactically.”
In contrast, Merson pointed to clubs like Chelsea and Newcastle, where the managers have managed to implement their visions quickly. He explained, “Look at Chelsea against Newcastle. You can tell what they’re trying to do after just a few months. United needs that direction.”
Amorim will have to prepare for a mix of highs and lows, according to Merson. “They’ll have flashes of brilliance over the next few months where they play amazing football,” he predicted, “but consistency will take time.”
Another crucial aspect of Amorim’s role will be in the transfer market. Merson noted that, unfortunately, Ten Hag missed the mark on several key signings. “He got the transfer market horribly wrong,” Merson said. “I mean, Antony for £80m—that’s a sacking offense in itself!”
To implement his preferred 3-4-3 formation, Merson says Amorim will need defenders with more speed. “They’ll need to recruit for pace at the back if they’re going to play with wing-backs that push forward,” he suggested.
Scoring goals has been another issue for United, and Merson thinks Amorim will need to prioritize finding a consistent goalscorer. “The two up front haven’t been delivering. Rasmus Hojlund is young, and Joshua Zirkzee hasn’t had much of a chance, but they need someone reliable up top.”
In addition to tactical and transfer challenges, Amorim will need to hit the ground running with United’s upcoming fixtures. They’re facing a tough lineup in November with games against Chelsea, Leicester, and Everton in the Premier League, plus Europa League matches with PAOK and Bodo/Glimt.
The Chelsea clash on November 3 will be a major test and is the first of several matches that will keep fans on the edge of their seats. From there, United faces Leicester, Ipswich, and Everton, with Europa League games in between.
It’s a full plate for Amorim, but fans will hope that with time, patience, and the right moves on and off the pitch, he can restore the team to the heights they once enjoyed. With his fresh perspective and proven success abroad, the young Portuguese manager could bring exactly the spark United needs.