MU is now for enjoyment

MU gradually revived.

Ruben Amorim arrived at Old Trafford on 1 November 2024, bringing with him a different 3-4-2-1 philosophy and the smile of a man who knew he was about to face a storm. A year on, that smile is still there. Not because things have gone smoothly, but because he has chosen to live lightly amid the heaviest pressure in world football.

How did Amorim change MU?

From the very beginning, Manchester United fans were skeptical. The team was losing miserably, the tactical system was unfamiliar, the players were confused. Many people thought Amorim was all talk and no action. But when he said “The storm is coming”, it was not a complaint. It was preparation. He knew storms were an integral part of the change process. And now, a year later, the sky over Old Trafford is different.

Amorim is not the stern, stern type of coach like Sir Alex Ferguson. He likes to laugh, even when he loses. When his phone rang during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) before a friendly match in May, he burst out laughing.

When asked if the Pope could bring himself to change the formation, he laughed. Even at the worst of times last December, he smiled and said: “The storm will come.” That smile was not fake, it was how he survived the crisis.

Amorim understands the value of people more than tactics. He does not build walls between himself and his players. He attended Patrick Dorgu's birthday party, signed hundreds of autographs in the rain, and asked players to greet the fans when they arrived at the stadium. At Old Trafford, Amorim's handshakes and smiles changed the gloomy atmosphere that had existed for many years after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Ruben Amorim is gradually reviving MU.

The way Amorim lived was also the way he coached. Meticulous, clear, no frills. In the first training session, Amorim stopped to correct Kobbie Mainoo’s every stride, every angle of his opening. He created simulated situations so the players understood the positions and movements in his scheme. He prepared everything down to the last detail, and gradually, Manchester United began to understand what he wanted.

Everything is different

A year ago, Amorim were facing harsh statistics: 21 defeats, just above Tottenham in the relegation zone. But since October, things have changed. Three consecutive wins have taken the club to the top. For the first time in four years, they were second in the Premier League, if only for a few hours. For the fans, it was a sign of life. For Amorim, it was a result of patience.

Amorim doesn’t talk about championships, nor does he paint a rosy picture of the future. “Things can change,” Amorim says, “but I won’t change the way I live.” The statement is simple, but reflects the mettle of a coach who once sat in front of an Excel spreadsheet with his wife, calculating whether he had enough money to support his children after an injury forced him to retire. A man who has lived through that period, is no longer afraid of any failure.

Amorim is not only building the team, he is rebuilding the culture of Manchester United – a value that has been lost since Sir Alex left. Amorim does not need power to be respected. He uses kindness and responsibility to create trust. When he loses, Amorim walks with the players to the stands. When he wins, he retreats to let his students enjoy the joy. “Very kind, very sincere,” a person in the club said about him.

In the early days, Ruben Amorim faced many difficulties.

People used to criticize Amorim for only acting in press conferences. But in fact, he hated that part the most. Amorim did not prepare, did not write his lines. All his statements were real reflexes. On the training ground, he was serious to the point of being cold, but off the field, he was the first to smile, the first to shake hands. That contrasting personality created a complex but real person.

Defeats like those against Grimsby and Brentford still happen, but they are the exception. With a more spread out schedule, Amorim’s training sessions are more effective. Players understand their roles, the system works more smoothly, and most importantly, morale is no longer broken.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe once said it would take him three years to rebuild Manchester United. If that is the timeframe, then Amorim is on the right track. After a year, he has overcome the hardest thing: not losing faith in himself.

“There were times when I wondered if this place wasn’t for me,” Amorim said. “But today, I know for sure that it was the best decision of my life. I want to stay here.”

A year on, Amorim did not make Manchester United the strongest team, but he gave them back something more important: hope. And at Old Trafford, after so many dark nights, hope is the most precious thing.

For Manchester, now is the time to enjoy them!

Source: https://znews.vn/mu-gio-la-de-thuong-thuc-post1598913.html