Ruben Amorim has just managed what Erik ten Hag was never able to in three seasons at Manchester United

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Erik ten Hag’s stint as Manchester United manager was defined by inconsistent Premier League results.

Yet there was one consistent aspect to Erik ten Hag’s results in the league for Manchester United – an inability to win big games away from home.

Ten Hag failed to lead his Manchester United team to win away at any of the other members of the ‘big six’.

These clubs include Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham.

Ruben Amorim already cracks away problems

Erik ten Hag made it look painfully difficult at times. His first ever away game at City was a 6-3 mauling. Meanwhile the 7-0 loss against Liverpool was historically bad.

Failing to win at Tottenham or Chelsea despite their inconsistencies has been disappointing.

The Arsenal one is tougher to crack. No United boss has managed that in the league since Jose Mourinho, with Amorim’s men defeated 2-0 earlier this month.

Yet already, in just his second away game against a ‘big team’, Ruben Amorim’s United have won 2-1 at the home of rivals City.

Did United get lucky with the timing against City? Perhaps. But you make your own luck.

There was little in the way United were playing under Ten Hag to suggest the team would have gone to The Etihad and won, if he had been in charge.

Now Amorim must do it again

It’s just as well Ruben Amorim has cracked this one early. It doesn’t mean there are more guaranteed away wins incoming – but United’s players have got the mental block out the way.

Perhaps a tougher one is whether United can now go away and win against one of the top London teams.

There are two cup games upcoming where United can try to find out.

United face Tottenham away this week in the Carabao Cup quarter-final. And then we face Arsenal away in early January in the FA Cup.

Amorim’s players will have belief now. If they can go to City and win – they can come out on top in one or both of these games too.

Winning at Spurs will provide a serious boost ahead of the Arsenal game next month.

It comes after Amorim snapped a European away game streak this week. Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Plzen was the team’s first win on the road in Europe since the 1-0 win against Real Betis in March 2023.