Ruben Amorim’s first interview as Manchester United manager was arguably the most hyped the fanbase has been for a piece of media in a long time.
In a video that stretched just over ten minutes, Amorim promised an identity to the fans, made a point directly contrasting Erik ten Hag, and most importantly, looked the part.
Erik ten Hag’s understated style of communication always left him struggling to carry the club and the players in a way that most charismatic managers manage to do.
In most of his comments, Ruben Amorim looked like he belonged but beyond the intangibles, there were lessons to be learned about his philosophy too.
Primarily, one section of his comments makes it clear that a star sold under Erik ten Hag would be perfect for him.
Ruben Amorim’s ideal player
There has been so much talk about Amorim’s back three formation, his style of play, his tactics, and how he will adapt to the team that a major question has been lost in the shuffle.
Bringing his style to Old Trafford is sensible, but how and in which positions do the current players fit in that style?
For example, Amad is borderline undroppable now, and in Amorim’s formation, there are only three forward spots.
For those three spots, United have seven players, not counting an exciting academy that Amorim loves to promote from.
In his interview, he gave an idea about his ideal player and his response spoke volumes because it is the kind of mentality that has been missing from United for far too long.
He said: “Well, you don’t know my past as a football player, but I was a football player and I played in any position. So I played at right-back, left-back, centre-back, midfielders, winger, number 10, number eight. I didn’t play goalkeeper and striker.
“So I was a team player and for me that is important. And also because I was a team player, sometimes I had to stay on the bench. So I know everything my players feel. So when I think about a team, I think about every player, about the fans, the feeling, everything is on my mind.”
Amorim’s comments remind of Scott McTominay
Not to pile on Ten Hag since the Dutchman also accepted that he didn’t want Scott McTominay to get sold, but it is impossible to look at Amorim’s comments and not think that McTominay would be perfect for him.
Scott McTominay has set the world alight in Italy with Napoli, so the move was already aging badly but his success at Napoli doesn’t mean he would have been similarly successful at Old Trafford.
If anything, his sale allowed United to turbocharge their business. However, in Amorim’s 3-4-3 and the positional versatility he so demands, McTominay would have been the dream fit.
He would be able to play as one of the two deeper midfielders, as one of the two behind the striker or even as a striker because that role in a 3-4-3 is extremely different from that in a 4-2-3-1.
Then there’s his professionalism and his willingness to play any role for the team or come off the bench to make an impact instead of sulking.
Amorim’s comments could easily be something McTominay would say about himself when he retires in a few years’ time.
That boat at United has sailed away and is unlikely to return which is probably best for both parties but it is a case of “What if” nonetheless.
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