Some have portrayed Manchester United’s season – regardless of Ruben Amorim’s arrival – as something of a lost cause.
13th in the table with only four wins from 11 games – and only 12 goals – was the sacking of Erik ten Hag and the subsequent appointment of former Sporting boss Ruben Amorim merely an attempt to salvage a campaign on a hiding to nothing?
Perhaps not. Manchester United can aim for more – in Amorim’s first few months at the helm – than a respectable finish and a shot at European qualification.
With the Premier League table tighter than vacuum-packed sardines, remarkably only four points separates Man United in 13th from Chelsea and Arsenal in third and fourth.
And with Ipswich Town and Everton to come during Amorim’s maiden top-flight fixtures, Man United could yet travel to Arsenal on December 4th breathing down Mikel Arteta’s neck.
Gary Neville expects Champions League charge for Manchester United
Gary Neville, the legendary right-back, sees no reason why the Red Devils cannot benefit from an extended case of ‘new manager bounce’ – Amorim has already impressed the Man United stars on the training pitch – and force their way into the Champions League reckoning over the coming weeks and months.
” I think we will push for top four this season,” Neville says through mouthfuls of pre-show ice cream. “I think he will get us going. All the players are putting out the right noises, aren’t they?
“They’re not far off.”
Amorim’s new side ended their wait for a Premier League victory last time out.
Interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy guided Man United to a 3-0 win over Leicester City, Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo continuing their excellent form in the post-Ten Hag era as they combined to open the scoring in devastating fashion at Old Trafford.
According to reports, Amorim has taken a liking to Amad already, though it remains to be seen if the diminutive Ivorian will be utilised as one of the duel number tens in a narrow front three or as a left-footed, right-sided wing-back a la Geovany Quenda at Sporting.
And while the noises coming out of Carrington sound pretty positive at the moment – Marcus Rashford and Casemiro both took to social media to give Amorim their seal of approval – Neville does wonder if a trip to the USA during the November international break was the best use of their spare time.
- READ MORE: Who is Marcus Rashford? Inside the life of Man Utd’s book-writing, government-tackling ace
Neville speaks out after Marcus Rashford and Casemiro’s USA trip
“I just think, from a professionalism point of view, looking at the details, I would ask the question; would my new manager want to see me there? Would the fans?,” Neville argues.
“Honestly for me, not being seen and going under the radar [is important]. If he doesn’t play well on Sunday, he knows what’s coming. So make life easier for yourself.”
As is usually the case when it comes to Rashford in particular, even the most minor of discussion points tends to be blown up beyond all proportions and the moral panic surrounding his New York sojourn feels like an oh-so familiar overreaction.
Rashford could be revitalised, meanwhile, in a more central role in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system after spending much of the last few months stuck on the touchline.
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