Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim has much to ponder ahead of Man Utd’s return to Premier League action in their next game – away to reigning champions and arch rivals Liverpool
(Image: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Ruben Amorim‘s preparation for Manchester United‘s visit to arch rivals Liverpool a week on Sunday will no doubt have been boosted by Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s endorsement of his head coach.
While Amorim claims to have a close relationship with Ratcliffe – to the extent they send each other GIFs and tell each other to f***off – to have the public backing of your boss, in the midst of a crisis on the pitch, will have been welcomed by the United manager.
Ratcliffe’s insistence that Amorim must be given time – the three-year length of his contract, according to United’s co-owner – to prove he is a “great coach” is laudable, but the 40-year-old Portuguese head coach knows the caveat to that is that results must pick up.
So Amorim cannot afford to get distracted by Ratcliffe’s vote of confidence in him, as he assesses his in-tray ahead of the huge trip to Anfield, where he will be seeking back-to-back Premier League wins at the 11th time of asking since taking charge of United almost a year ago.
United’s players who are not on international duty trained Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week, but have been given a few days off before returning on Monday for the return to Premier League action.
So what is in Amorim’s in-tray ahead of the trip to reigning champions and arch rivals Liverpool? Let’s take a look:
DECIDE ON HIS No.1 GOALKEEPER
This would appear to be the easiest issue facing Amorim and a no-brainer – stick with Senne Lammens in goal. The 23-year-old deadline day signing from Royal Antwerp made an assured debut in United’s 2-0 win over Sunderland before the international break and the No.1 spot would now appear to be his, ahead of Altay Bayindir. Although Amorim stated the pair would fight it out to be first-choice, the solid performance of Lammens, allied to the positive feedback in training from goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital, means the Belgian gets the nod.
Lammens made an assured debut in goal for United in a comfortable 2-0 win over Sunderland
KEEP A SETTLED DEFENCE
Amorim is fond of making in-game changes to his back three, mainly because he is petrified of losing any of his centre-backs to injury, according to those who know him. That would explain the reason behind his decision to hook at least one of his defenders during the second-half of matches, although Matthijs de Ligt has played every minute of every Premier League game so far. Amorim has chopped and changed his personnel at the back, but must now settle on a stable back three for consistency of performance, with De Ligt, Leny Yoro and Luke Shaw arguably his strongest trio.
IMPROVDE DORGU’S WRETCHED FINAL BALL
Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system requires his wing-backs to be masters of all trades – possessing the ability to defend, attack and get up and down their respective flanks throughout games. It is a role that demands a lot from those entrusted with it and while Patrick Dorgu‘s defending is questionable at times, his final ball is without doubt lamentable. For a player who manages to find himself in so many dangerous positions, Dorgu’s crossing is woeful and something Amorim and his coaching staff need to work on with the Denmark international.
United winger Amad has yet to produce his best form after a slow start to the new season(Image: Marc Atkins, Getty Images)
HELP AMAD REDISCOVER HIS BEST FORM
Amad has emerged as Amorim’s preferred choice for the right-wing back role, but has started the season sluggishly and then missed the 3-1 defeat at Brentford because of a family bereavement. There were glimpses of the Ivory Coast winger getting back to his best in the win over Sunderland and Amorim must help Amad build on that encouraging display. Amad is likely to get the nod over Diogo Dalot to face Liverpool, given he offers more up and down the right side, certainly attacking-wise, and it would be a timely moment to rediscover his best form.
REASSURE MAINOO OVER HIS FUTURE
Kobbie Mainoo has yet to start a Premier League game this season and with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes Amorim’s go-to central midfield pairing, that situation does not look like changing any time soon. Mainoo wanted to go out on loan before deadline day, due to his lack of game time, but United rejected that request. With Mainoo’s plight unlikely to change, Amorim must take steps to reassure the 20-year-old that he retains faith in him and he has a role to play, even if that does not translate to selecting him in his starting line-up.