Ruben Amorim to Man Utd a 'dream' for three players including one yet to play this season

Chelsea icon Pat Nevin believes Ruben Amorim’s arrival at Manchester United will benefit three players, including one who is yet to play a single minute this season. Amorim is due to leave Sporting and take over the reins from Ruud van Nistelrooy next week.

The 39-year-old is one of the highest-rated managers in world football, having excelled during his time in charge of Sporting. He will be tasked with steering United back on track following their worst start to a Premier League season in history.

Nevin believes Amorim’s move to Old Trafford will have a positive impact on former Sporting players Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte. He also thinks Luke Shaw, who has not played for United since February, will enjoy working with United’s incoming boss.

Speaking to BetVictor, Nevin said: “When you look at players trying to get into Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United side, it might help if you’re Portuguese! There’s been an amazing amount of positivity from Bruno Fernandes around the announcement.

“I think Manuel Ugarte, who he worked with at Sporting, will be important for him. In the end it will really come down to who fits into his system, because he is going to play three at the back. That will suit certain players, but others, not so much.

“It’s a dream scenario for Luke Shaw. He can play on the left of the back three, or as the left wing-back.”

Nevin added that United’s older players could struggle to make an impression under Amorim, who will demand a lot in terms of physicality and stamina.

“Long-term, I think it will be harder for players like Casemiro and Christian Eriksen,” he said. “They’re not young anymore and Amorim will want more dynamism in his midfield. I think it will be tough for them.”

Amorim is widely expected to bring his 3-4-3 system to United but Nevin believes that other teams will soon figure out how to play against it.

“I do think he’ll make them better, but it’ll be intriguing to see how long it takes for his system to work,” explained Nevin. “Three-at-the-back systems seem to work really well initially, but then teams work out how to play against it.

“Chelsea experienced that under Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel. The system brought immediate success for both of them, but then they both got found out the following season. It’ll be like that for Manchester United.

“He’ll bring in his own ideas and I suspect they’ll work really well initially because he knows the system, but Premier League teams aren’t stupid. They’ll learn quickly and find where the weaknesses are.”