Paul Scholes has suggested that Ruben Amorim might find the “starting block” for his project at Manchester United if he observes what one other manager has done.
Ruben Amorim became Manchester United manager last November after he left his native homeland of Portugal and his role as Sporting CP head coach at the time.
The 40-year-old United manager arrived at the Premier League club and succeeded former Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford dugout in 2024.
Erik ten Hag was sacked as United manager last October after the Red Devils’ disastrous start to the 2024-25 Premier League season under the Dutchman.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was assistant manager in Ten Hag’s former United coaching staff, served as interim manager ahead of Amorim’s arrival at Old Trafford.
Amorim has faced an uphill battle in the 2024-25 campaign with United and the Red Devils have failed to bounce back in their lacklustre Premier League season.
The Red Devils have continued to regress as the season has progressed and United currently languish in 16th place in the Premier League table under Amorim.
Amorim’s men fell to their whopping 17th Premier League defeat on Sunday afternoon after West Ham comfortably beat United 2-0 at Old Trafford.
Why Paul Scholes sees Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta as an important learning lesson for Man Utd head coach Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim’s lifeline for the remainder of the 2024-25 season now relies on Manchester United’s Europa League final clash against Tottenham on 21st May.
The Red Devils punched their ticket to the 2025 Europa League final after United knocked Athletic Club out of the tournament in the semi-finals last Thursday.
United must now lift the Europa League trophy if Amorim wants to lead the Red Devils back to Europe and Champions League football for the 2025-26 campaign.
Paul Scholes argued that United manager Amorim could “take a lot” from the project that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has rolled out at the Emirates during his reign.
Speaking in his TNT Sports column, the United legend said: “I think Mikel Arteta has done an absolutely brilliant job at Arsenal since he first joined the club.
“He could possibly finish second for the third year in a row and I think Ruben Amorim can take a lot from what Arteta has done over these last five to six years at Arsenal.
“Imagine if Amorim can get United up to second in the Premier League and into the semi-final of the Champions League in the next three or four years.
“I would swap United’s season this year for Arsenal’s campaign even if they go on and win the Europa League. All day long.”
Paul Scholes explains why Mikel Arteta’s project at Arsenal isn’t a ‘bad example’ for Ruben Amorim at Man Utd
Scholes added that Amorim could take a page out of Mikel Arteta’s playbook at Arsenal by building United’s strength in the Premier League ahead of a title challenge.
“Arsenal just need to get over that line,” he continued.
“The next step for them is going on and winning a big one, and I don’t think they’re far off achieving that.
“We can all say they keep finishing second, but it’s a lot closer compared to where Man Utd are right now.
“I would like United to be in a position where they get the chance to ‘bottle it’ if that makes sense.”
The 50-year-old former United midfielder added: “It wouldn’t be a bad example for Amorim to take.
“He can have a look at Arsenal and just study what Arteta has done over recent years, and it might be the starting block for United.
“I believe once Man Utd can start finishing second and manage to make it into the Champions League semi-finals, they have the experience and history to go on and win it because they’ve proven they can do it.“
“A team like Arsenal haven’t constantly proven that they can go and win big trophies year after year.”
United will now visit Stamford Bridge on Friday evening and the Red Devils will be back in Premier League action against Chelsea ahead of the Europa League final.
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