Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has made a startling admission, revealing that his first year in charge at Old Trafford could have spelled "the end" of his coaching career had he bowed to early pressure.
Sticking to Principles Amid External Noise
The 40-year-old Portuguese coach insisted he could not afford to be more flexible and cave to demands from pundits and media before proving his preferred 3-4-2-1 system could work. He believed changing too soon would have destroyed his credibility with the playing squad.
"When you talk about changing the system all the time, I can't change because the players will understand that I am changing because of you, and I think that is the end for the coach," Amorim stated.
He explained that the shift in approach, including switching to a four-man defence and starting the Boxing Day victory over Newcastle in a 4-2-3-1 formation, is a sign of progression, not panic.
A Process of Building Identity
Amorim framed his tenure as a long-term project, acknowledging that when he arrived last season, he perhaps didn't have the right players for his system initially. "It was the beginning of the process. We are trying to build an identity," he said.
The situation is now different, according to the manager. With players understanding the core principles, tactical adjustments are made for strategic reasons, not external pressure. "It is not because of pressure from you, or from the fans, it is because we now understand the way we want to play," he emphasised.
This adaptability will make United a better team in the long run. Amorim promised that when all players return, they will not always play with three defenders.
Injury Crisis and January Transfer Plans
The need for change is compounded by a significant injury list. Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire are all ruled out, while Mason Mount is a doubt. The club is also without Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui due to the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Boxing Day win saw youngsters like Jack and Tyler Fletcher, Shea Lacey, Tyler Fredricson, and Bendito Mantato on the bench.
Amorim confirmed United will be active in the January transfer window but stressed the club will not panic-buy. The focus is on potentially bringing forward deals planned for the summer. One major target is Bournemouth's Ghanaian forward Antoine Semenyo, though Manchester City are currently leading the race for his signature, with a fee around £65 million discussed.
The manager also highlighted a need to strengthen in midfield and is in talks with football director Jason Wilcox and the Old Trafford hierarchy. He acknowledged a collaborative approach is essential, as not every manager's wish can be granted, especially with the possibility of a future coaching change.
Looking ahead to facing bottom-placed Wolves for the second time in three weeks, Amorim was cautious: "In the Premier League, you never know. They have their problems, we have ours, but there are no excuses. We need to win and we are going to try to do it."
