The real countdown to Ruben Amorim’s first Manchester United test is underway as the 39-year-old prepares to make his Premier League debut at the helm against Ipswich on Sunday.
For Amorim, this is a moment that has been agonisingly lurking in the background since he was confirmed as Erik ten Hag’s successor with plenty of fanfare focusing on his arrival since then.
The former Sporting Clube de Portugal boss arrives in England’s top-flight well regarded and with good reason as he is tasked with sorting through the chaos that has overseen United’s worst start to a Premier League campaign.
Much has been made of Amorim’s sensational record in Lisbon where he ended the club’s near 20-year wait to become league champions and started the season as the only manager in Europe’s top divisions to boast a 100 per cent winning record.
A 4-1 Champions League thrashing of United’s rivals Man City only boosted excitement amongst supporters and now the time is almost upon us to judge whether Amorim lives up to the hype.
Along with the five assistants the former midfielder has brought with him to England, Amorim has devised a much-discussed 3-4-3 formation that breaks the norm when assessing other competing clubs.
Ruben Amorim is preparing to name his first Manchester United squad ahead of his opening game in charge against Ipswich
Amorim has overseen his first training sessions as United boss at the club’s Carrington complex
Matthijs de Ligt (left) and Lisandro Martinez (right) will be both hoping to start in Amorim’s preferred 3-5-2 system
The system focuses on three central defenders flanked by two wings backs – who also push into midfield – with two holding midfielders and a three-pronged attack that carves out chances and goals.
The latter of those is something United have seriously struggled with this season. When it comes to goals scored, the Red Devils find themselves in unwanted company.
United have found the back of the net just 12 times in 11 matches this season with only Everton (10), Crystal Palace (8), and Southampton (7) scoring fewer.
Amorim has already raised expectations by guaranteeing downbeat United supporters will ‘see an idea, positioning, and something that we want to reach,’ but does he have the personnel to replicate the success he celebrated in Portugal?
The few training sessions that he has overseen at United’s Carrington training complex have been based around instilling his virtues, playing style, and of course preferred system to set up in.
His training methods have already been well-received with both Marcus Rashford and Casemiro publicly praising the sessions that have been led by Amorim and now the head coach faces the difficult choice of naming his first United matchday squad, with Mail Sport assessing the statistically best performers so far this season.
Fortunately, Amorim has been boosted by having a nearly fully-fit squad to choose from for his opening match in the United dugout – something Ten Hag rarely had.
Teenage sensation Leny Yoro could make his long-awaited debut after successfully recovering from surgery, while other notable long-term absentees Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Mason Mount have all taken part in recent training sessions.
United’s teenage sensation Leny Yoro (pictured) has recovered from injury and could make his debut on Sunday
Experienced centre-back Jonny Evans (left) is amongst United’s best performers this season
United’s Portuguese full-back Diogo Dalot (right) is expected to start in Amorim’s opening team
Kobbie Mainoo (left) will be keen to reclaim his starting role in midfield after recovering from injury and could feature alongside Casemiro (right)
Defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte (right) is well-liked by Amorim but is still adjusting to the Premier League
In defence, Amorim is spoilt for choice. His three-man set-up depends on each defender being comfortable in possession and also stepping up into midfield at times.
A back-three of Lisandro Martinez, Yoro, and Matthijs de Ligt is the obvious choice, but it might not be the best considering others have performed better in defence for United so far this season.
Veteran centre-back Jonny Evans has been involved more often than he perhaps expected this season making 10 appearances across all competitions, but has been one of the more solid performers with a Sofascore rating of 6.84.
Meanwhile, Harry Maguire is United’s leading defender with a score of 7.08 but has admittedly played fewer games due to an injury previously sustained in a goalless draw against Aston Villa.
Argentinian stalwart Martinez (6.95) is expected to star in Amorim’s first team and his ball-playing capabilities along with fierce defending style is something that will appeal to United’s new chief.
At wing-back, Diogo Dalot (7.09) has often deputised out of position at left back and could start on the left of United’s defence despite the returns of long-term absentees Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia complicating Amorim’s choice.
Bargain summer signing Noussair Mazraou (7.19) – who arrived for just £12million – has starred in both defence and attack during his debut season at the club and it would be a surprise to see him dropped for the visit to Portman road.
Ahead of them, Amorim must be ruthless when deciding on his midfield duo with the pair required to be influential in turning possession over quickly and quickly shifting the ball onto attackers ahead of them.
United captain Bruno Fernandes is expected to lead the team for United’s trip to Portman Road
Marcus Rashford might have to settle for a place on the bench in Amorim’s first game in charge
Attacking pair Alejandro Garnacho (left) and Amad Diallo (right) have been amongst United’s best recent performers
Manuel Ugarte has already been praised by Amorim after the pair shared success together previously at Sporting before the Uruguayan moved to Paris Saint-Germain but is still settling into the Premier League.
England international Mainoo will be hoping to get his first start since returning from injury, while Mount will also be desperate to please, but the stats show experienced Casemiro (7.38) and Christian Eriksen (7.34) have been the top performers in the engine-room.
The pair continued to start during Ten Hag’s final few matches in charge, but it would be a huge surprise to see them given runouts against Ipswich with neither possessing the youthful edge needed to match the intense press Amorim demands.
There are further difficult decisions to make in attack with Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund, Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo, and Antony all vying for a starting role.
Garnacho (7.12) and Fernandes (7.60) are perhaps the most popular stars amongst United supporters after providing the main source of goals this season – with Fernandes tipped to play in a false nine role – leaving only one other position up for grabs.
Rashford is the most obvious choice especially having worked with Amorim for a longer period after failing to earn a call-up over the international break, but if United’s new head coach wants to go by the data, then Diallo (7.13) is a better option on the right.
The 22-year-old started the season strongly and has one Premier League goal to his name but was subsequently relegated to the bench by Ten Hag in a move that split opinion amongst supporters.
Diallo benefitted from Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s interim spell in charge and will be knocking on Amorim’s door demanding he starts against Ipswich – though he doubtless won’t be alone.