1 week Ago By Vatsal Gupta
If there was ever any doubt about Ruben Amorim’s ability to turn it around at Manchester United, Ineos needs only to watch the Champions League to take those doubts away. Ruben Amorim hasn’t had the best of time at Man Utd since arriving mid-season, somehow taking a struggling squad and achieving even worse results. Of late, the performances have clearly improved but they’re way behind the eight-ball when it comes to what’s expected at Man Utd.
Still, the fanbase backs Amorim and so do Ineos. If they needed any more reason to back him for a long-term vindicated, they got it in the Champions League. Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty ImagesRuben Amorim vindicated in Champions LeagueCan a manager’s position get strengthened in a game that he’s not even a part of? Forget about the game, Amorim is not even in the same competition anymore.
How can, therefore, a Champions League game vindicate Ruben Amorim and strengthen his position at Old Trafford? Below is a comment from the Man Utd manager not long ago where he talked about an “inspiration” for his own time at the club, albeit with a caveat. “I think in that aspect, the way Arteta dealt with that, is an inspiration for everybody,” said Amorim before the Arsenal game in the Premier League. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal levelled up in real-time when they beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the Champions League in the first leg, a result which will undoubtedly strengthen Amorim’s case for overseeing a long-term project at Old Trafford as well.
For as unlikable Arsenal and Arteta can be for United fans, it is undeniable that the club he took over languished near the bottom of the top half, and in five-six years, he’s turned Arsenal into title contenders and now taken a step forward in Europe. In an era of quick decision-making and trigger-happy owners, Arteta’s case, in Amorim’s own words, has become an ‘inspiration’ for other managers. Ruben Amorim has shown positive signs as wellIt goes without saying that just because Arteta improved Arsenal with time, every manager should be given the same luxury.
However, Amorim has already started showing positive signs and a marked improvement in performance levels that continue to get better with each game. There is now a clear identity and a style of play that the players are trying to execute, even if they’re not successful in doing so all the time. A big driver of Arteta’s success was the way he was backed in the market, as much in selling as he was in buying, something which the Man Utd board will be tested on in the summer.
If they get it right, then it could well be Man Utd 3-0 Real Madrid in the Champions League two or three years from now. Amorim has that ability..
