Ruben Amorim smiled, a self-contained, restrained smile, not a deliriously frantic one. The triumph over Liverpool could potentially be the watershed moment of his career. The win that could be a victory; of system, belief, patience and signs of a turnaround. Yet, he knows the wisdom of not being euphoric, of not losing equanimity, even if in his mind he would have felt like sliding along the touchline like Jose Mourinho when his humble Porto FC shocked Manchester United in a Champions League quarterfinal yet.
Mourinho and Amorim are compatriots, yet of varied humour. Amorim is the ice to Mourinho’s fire.
And, Mourinho, more than all other United managers, would confess the trials that await United’s humiliations at Liverpool’s hands. The 3-1 defeat in 2018 accelerated his ouster, which has been simmering the whole season. Seventeen games had passed that season, and United were 11 points adrift of Chelsea in fourth and 19 behind leaders Liverpool. Four years after their last league triumph, United still nursed a superiority complex, and hence vain enough to jettison their third manager in the four seasons.
In 2025, they are a humbler proposition, fallen giants and aware of the troubled existence, no longer hubristic to fire Amorim after 51 matches in all competitions. The co-owner Jim Ratcliffe has pledged three years for Amorim to prove “himself as a great coach.” Amorim, though, would know that billionaires don’t always stick to their words. A pile of defeats would force him to leave on his own. Patience would wean, and disillusionment would kick in.
The Anfield coup has brought him valuable time to implement his ideals. Neat as the victory was, the first time Amorim has won two games on the spin in the league, his team is barely midway through fulfilling his grand vision. The system is bedding in after a prolonged teething in phase, the revamped frontline is dynamic, as evinced by the statistic that United have created the most number of goal-scoring opportunities in the league. The flipside is that they have netted only eleven goals through a cabal of profligacy and misfortune. Glaring holes glare from the midfield, where United possess neither the muscle nor the legs of a midfield disruptor.
Glaring holes glare from the midfield, where United possess neither the muscle nor the legs of a midfield disruptor. (PHOTO: AP)
Every side they have countenanced this season has bullied the United midfield. It was baffling that their first move in the summer transfer window was not for a defensive midfielder that suited Amorim 3-4-3. The backline, though not the most athletic or technical, exhibited collectivism to repel waves of attack. A more robust defensive screen could make the defenders looks less frenzied. At least they have found a trust-worthier goalkeeper than Andre Onana. There are still square pegs in round holes.
The Liverpool victory would not change these all overnight. But it would create vibes and energy, instill a belief that if they could topple the champions they could beat anyone in the league. The improvements were evident throughout the season. Barring the games against Manchester City and Brentford, they had looked fairly cohesive upfront and energetic at the back. They were more purposeful and less flakier than they were last season. Harum-scarum moments were fewer. But they needed a statement win, a monumental moment to ascertain their progress. Beating Sunderland before the international break, even if they were tough and occupying the top half, was never infused with campaign-defining gravitas. Upending Liverpool at home where they last tasted defeat nearly 10 months ago, definitely was.
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The night’s hero, Harry Maguire, whose towering header turned out to be the most decisive instance of the game, would say: “It’s the old cliche – ‘it’s only three points’ – but it’s definitely not: it means a lot more than that to the club, to the fans and to the boys.” These are moments that stir teams, lift their morale, impart momentum and kill the festering negativity around the club. The warier manager, Amorim, said: “To have a win like this is really important. But again, this is the past. Let’s focus on the future. If we do the same things and play a little bit better with the same spirit, things will change in time.”
Manchester United’s head coach Ruben Amorim with his players during Premier League. (Photo: AP)
For he, more than anyone else, knows the schizophrenic tendencies of his group. The same team could unsurprisingly stumble to Brighton at Old Trafford. But here is an opportunity to stretch a few wins together. Should they manage a decent winning streak, they could be a far more imposing entity than they are now. They could be less ponderous and doubt-ridden, more decisive and coherent. Even their midfield would wear a stabler look. The schedule till mid-December too is kinder to stitch a few victories that could fuel their European ambitions.
The biggest takeaway was the combining of the front three. Amorim dropped striker Benjamin Sesko for the trident of Mason Mount (left), Matheus Cunha (central) and Bryan Mbuemo (left). United looked considerably slicker with the three rather than Sesko as the target-man. Often, the ingenious Cunha would drop deeper, allowing Mbuemo to occupy more central channels and right wing-back Amad Diallo to drift in as a playmaker. Their speed and cleverness rattled the Liverpool back-line. Diallo, with sumptuous feet, would weave and spin past Virgin van Dijk, arguably the best centre back of his time with stupendous ease. Mbuemo and Cunha led the press aggressively too. Mount, with his defensive rigour, filled empty spaces and nipped several Liverpool thrusts in the bud.
Functionally, though not structurally, this was how Sir Alex Ferguson filled in the void of a great central midfielder during his later few years. He had good ones but not great ones, but he glossed over the flaw by packing his team with a variety of differently-skilled attackers. It would not be long before United’s gifted forwards begin to shrink the gap between the chances created and goal scored ratio. And then Amorim could smile without a care in the world.
