Ruben Amorim is 'ruthless' as Man Utd players get used to new 3-4-3 formation

An insider who worked closely with new Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim at Sporting has said: “His drive to succeed is incredible. He’s ruthless. He doesn’t give a s**t what people say or who players are.”

This sentiment is sure to delight Man United fans as they witness the new manager’s fervour first-hand. The revealing footage of Amorim commanding the pitch during his initial training session at Carrington has only heightened the anticipation among supporters.

United have always been cautious about training, going so far as to construct a wall earlier this season to keep their first-team sessions out of the public eye. However, on Monday evening, a seven-minute clip showcasing Amorim orchestrating attacks from the backline was broadcasted, giving a glimpse into his tactical approach and the implementation of his famed 3-4-3 formation.

It also hinted at possible line-up choices for the upcoming match against Ipswich Town on Sunday.

In an unusual sight, the footage showed United players dashing towards their own goal, a testament to Amorim’s hands-on coaching style. Leny Yoro, initially set to play for the Under 21s in the National League Cup, was notably absent due to Amorim’s influence, having been selected for the defensive trio in the coach’s debut session.

Among all the managerial hires since Sir Alex Ferguson’s era, only Jose Mourinho’s arrival in 2016 has generated comparable excitement to that surrounding Amorim. Despite initial doubts following Erik ten Hag’s protracted departure, it appears United have found a unifying figure in Amorim to lead the team forward.

The 39-year-old’s visibility in the days leading up to his confirmation as Manchester United’s new manager certainly helped. He was seen engaging with English media representatives at press conferences in Lisbon, and more journalists flocked to his briefings the following week after Sporting thrashed Manchester City in the Champions League.

The optimism at United hasn’t been this high since the FA Cup final. However, it is peculiar that Amorim will not be introduced at Old Trafford today.

Since David Moyes, every permanent or interim United manager has had an introductory press conference at Old Trafford. Even in the era of Zoom, Ralf Rangnick was given a first in-person press conference in 21 months.

The Number 7 suite was opened for Mourinho, Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

An interview with Amorim, conducted by United’s in-house media last Thursday evening, was published around 24 hours later at 7pm on Friday, a time often considered a graveyard slot in the daily news cycle.

The timing gave the impression that United were trying to bury bad news, despite Amorim’s arrival being one of the most positive stories for the club this year, second only to their FA Cup victories over Liverpool and City.

Club insiders have revealed that the decision to delay Amorim’s introduction was made to allow him to settle into his new role, rather than subjecting him to two press conferences before his first match in charge. He is set to hold a press conference at Carrington at 1.30pm on Friday.

The event will be divided into three sections for regular journalists, Sunday newspaper reporters and guests from Portugal. Despite the limited space in the Jimmy Murphy Centre, where the event will take place, it has already been described as a likely circus by a staff member.

The key questions will eventually be asked and answered at this afternoon’s press conference. While pre-match press conferences usually last 15 minutes, an audience with Amorim is expected to take at least twice as long.

Some at United are hesitant to be overly positive per the Manchester Evening News, having seen the initial optimism that comes with a new manager before. However, many at the club have welcomed Amorim’s energy and uplifting presence.

“He has struck all the right notes,” one source said.

An insider who knows Amorim well has said: “He’s more charismatic and empathetic with players and the press than Ten Hag. He will answer everything at a press conference. He tends to joke.”

Amorim, who previously worked closely with Sporting president Frederico Varandas and sporting director Hugo Viana, is believed to want a similar relationship with the United hierarchy. He has spoken about his “connection” with chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.

It’s thought that Amorim will make adjustments to his expected 3-4-3 system. Most of United’s centre-backs are familiar with the back three set-up, while Diogo Dalot played in a 3-4-3 for Porto B when United scouted him.

Amorim was “very close” to replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, with the shortlist narrowed down to him and Arne Slot. Manchester City had identified Amorim as Pep Guardiola’s successor if he had left Manchester after ten years.

He will face Guardiola again in next month’s derby. Like Mourinho, Amorim is staying at The Lowry Hotel, but unlike his mentor, he is already looking for a house.

United security staff have been driving Amorim to Carrington every day this week.

Amorim’s debut as United manager at Portman Road comes with an intriguing narrative. Across the field, Kieran McKenna, another highly-touted young coach and a former candidate to succeed Ten Hag, will be in charge of the opposition.

McKenna, also a Mourinho disciple, was promoted to first-team coach at United in 2018 shortly after Amorim’s internship there. Interestingly, had United opted for McKenna recently, his release clause would have been heftier than Amorim’s £8million buyout.

While some senior United players reportedly found McKenna’s approach too strict, the younger members were more open to it.

The upcoming match dispels one particular storyline; the last time United played at Portman Road in May 2002, Ruud van Nistelrooy decided the outcome. Van Nistelrooy recently acknowledged the United fans’ support during the Leicester game, finding “closure”.

Shortly thereafter, Amorim made his decisive move, displaying the same ruthlessness just hours after landing in Manchester on his private jet. A former colleague from Sporting confidently stated about Amorim: “He will 100 per cent succeed.”