MOR CHANGE
Three ways Man Utd could line up under Ruben Amorim as Sporting boss reunites with former star and top Arsenal target
Amorim could had a chance to a former team-mate of his
RUBEN AMORIM could ring the changes at Manchester United if he is hired for the top job.
The Portuguese manager is hotly tipped to arrive at Old Trafford following the sacking of Erik ten Hag.
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The Dutchman was finally put out of his misery after the disappointing 2-1 defeat to West Ham at the London Stadium.
Ten Hag was not expecting his time to come to an end as he still held the team's press conference for the Carabao Cup clash against Leicester on Tuesday.
Assistant manager Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of the side while a new manager is appointed.
Amorim, 39, is the leading candidate to be offered the job by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and could be appointed quickly.
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The Sporting Lisbon manager will be familiar with Man United's newest signing Manuel Ugarte.
The midfielder starred for Amorim before he left the Portuguese outfit for Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.
The Uruguayan would be expected to be given a leading role under the manager in the centre of midfield.
The line-up could also drastically change at Old Trafford after a transfer window under Amorim.
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Man United have been heavily linked with both Sporting goal machine Viktor Gyokeres and defender Goncalo Inacio.
Amorim could insist on the pair's arrival at Old Trafford to add more quality to his side.
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Inacio would command an immediate starting space in the backline and could take up a spot in the middle between Lisandro Martinez and Yoro.
While Gyokeres would take up the striker role and replace the Red Devils' misfiring pair of Hojlund and Zirkzee.
The Swedish striker is amongst the most prolific in Europe, having netted 57 goals in 64 appearances for Sporting.
He is already familiar with English football, having spent three seasons at Coventry City in the Championship.
Man United would face competition to sign Gyokeres, with Arsenal also interested in the striker.
Amorim favoured a 3-4-3 formation while at Sporting Lisbon which could suit the club's current defensive options.
Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui are both capable of playing as wing-backs to add width.
The back three could be made up of Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro.
Ruben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man Utd
WHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.
Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.
But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.
Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.
He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers.
The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.
And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.
Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.
Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.
United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won't be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”
And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.
For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for.
However, this will only be possible once Yoro has returned to full fitness following his injury in pre-season.
The £52million summer signing is closing on his return from a foot fracture and has been training on grass.
Without a transfer window, Amorim would likely opt for Rasmus Hojlund to spearhead the attack as he has similar qualities to Gyokeres.
Marcus Rashford could then flank the Danish striker on the left and Bruno Fernandes on the right.
Another option for Amorim would be to replace Rashford with Garnacho on the left and Hojlund with Joshua Zirkzee.
He could also tinker with the defence and put faith in Victor Lindelof.
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Amorim played alongside the Swede during his four seasons in the Benfica first-team.
Long-term injury absentee Luke Shaw could bag the left wing-back spot.
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