Ruben Amorim’s comments about Mikel Arteta speak volumes as Man Utd deal confirmed

New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has a huge deal of admiration for Mikel Arteta. Amorim, 39, has been officially confirmed as Erik ten Hag’s replacement, becoming the latest young manager to take charge of a top-tier club.

He and the Arsenal boss are part of a new generation of coaches making their mark on European football. Notably, Amorim has a positive record against Arteta, having knocked the Gunners out of the Europa League Round of 16 in 2023 with Sporting Lisbon.

However, before their match in 2023, Amorim praised Arteta’s resilience and used him as an example that great things can be achieved if a club and its fan base put all their support behind a manager.

He said: “In our first season we won the league, then were runners-up and we qualified for the Champions League last 16. This year we are struggling, but Arteta is an example because he was able to withstand the pressure, which is unbearable for a team in the Premier League.

“Now he is bearing the fruits. It is important for fans to understand that to pick up the fruits from your work, you have to wait.”

Arteta faced significant pressure in the early stages of his third season, which started with humiliating defeats to a promoted Brentford, Chelsea and Manchester City. Since then, Arsenal’s trajectory has been on the up, securing a commendable fifth-place finish and then achieving consecutive second-place finishes in the Premier League.

Arteta also holds Amorim’s previous side in high regard. When asked about his Lisbon team in 2023, Arteta said: “The variety, options and the change in formations that they can do, and within that shape as well. The profile of players especially the wing-backs change their behaviours.

“We know that, and until we have the line-ups, we will have a few question marks as we try to understand what they will do.”

Amorim will take over a Manchester United team currently languishing in 14th place in the Premier League and sitting 21st in the Europa League standings. In contrast, Arsenal have had an impressive start both domestically and in the Champions League.

They sit just five points adrift of leaders Manchester City and are tied for third in the Champions League group stage, level on points with the likes of City, Monaco, Brest, Bayer Leverkusen, Inter Milan, and Sporting. Amorim will not take charge of his first match at United until November 24.

Ruud van Nistelrooy will remain in charge for United’s Premier League matches at home to Chelsea and Leicester City, either side of a tricky Europa League clash at home to PAOK Athens. Amorim’s first match will be an away clash against newly promoted Ipswich Town.