Interesting transfers on paper, new hopes, fresh expectations, and then one big disappointment. This is how you can describe the beginning of the current season for Manchester United. And probably, according to many fans of this club, this is a description that fits virtually every season of this club under the leadership of Erik Ten Hag. The Dutchman came in 2022 from Ajax Amsterdam, which led, among others, to the semi-finals of the Champions League in the 2018/19 season. He was supposed to restore the Old Trafford club to its former glory.
Manchester United was shrinking instead of growing
However, each subsequent season under his leadership seemed to be an even greater disappointment. This Hag actually won two FA Cups. However, in the Premier League he was unable to stay at the top. After eighth place last season, many expected his dismissal, but in the meantime he… extended his contract. This turned out to be a huge mistake for United, who after nine rounds of this season are only in 14th place, have scored only eight goals and are already 12 points behind the leader. It was too much and The Dutchman was finally released.
He created a monster. Will it be Manchester's salvation?
A great discussion about Ten Hag's successor immediately began. According to the Daily Mail and Sky Sports television, the management of Manchester United already has their favorite. He is 39-year-old Ruben Amorim. He is the current coach of Sporting Lisbon, who has been leading the team since March 2020 and won two Portuguese championships with it (2020/21 and 2023/24). The current season started in brilliant style, as Sporting won all nine matches so far in the Portuguese league, scoring as many as 30 goals and conceding only 2. In addition, they also have seven points after three rounds of the Champions League.
Interestingly, Amorim was once supposed to be very close to taking over Liverpool after Juergen Klopp, but ultimately he stayed in Lisbon and Arne Slot went to Anfield. Now United wants to do what their eternal rivals failed to do and persuade the Portuguese to cooperate. According to the Daily Mail, Amorim has a clause in his contract amounting to EUR 8.3 million, but Manchester does not care. On the contrary, it will make the whole matter easier for them, because they will not have to talk to Sporting itself. How will these negotiations end? This will become clear in the near future. For now, the interim coach is Ten Haga's assistant and club legend Ruud van Nisterlooy.