Manchester United are 13th in the Premier League and talk of winning the title is fanciful, but Ruben Amorim must believe he can end the wait for league glory at Old Trafford. Each manager since Sir Alex Ferguson has failed in that remit and fans are hoping Amorim will be different.
Although the only thing on supporters’ minds right now is climbing into the top half, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has a vision and didn’t invest millions for United to continue to be a mediocre side.
Ratcliffe wants United to be the best and Amorim arrives at a club that has a hierarchy to support that ambition. Erik ten Hag didn’t have that luxury when he was appointed from Ajax and Amorim inheriting a more organised ship gives hope he can steer the great vessel to success again.
It’s thought Omar Berrada has informed club staff that Ineos want to win the Premier League by 2028, which is coincidentally when Amorim’s two-and-a-half-year contract expires.
Amorim will have been in charge for two summer transfer windows by the time the 2027/28 season begins and it would be a shock if Pep Guardiola is still managing Manchester City.
Guardiola has made City practically untouchable during his tenure at the Etihad but their spell of dominance is showing clear signs of ending and the 115 alleged charges are lingering.
The door will open for when Guardiola leaves and that is inching closer. There will be an opportunity for United and the club believe they have hired a coach to capitalise on that anticipated opening. The cards may fall at the right time and tee up the perfect set of circumstances.
Amorim has already hinted at immediately using his 3-4-3 formation and the current conversation among fans is about which players fit in the system and which players will be starters.
United have made their worst start to a Premier League campaign and there are holes in the squad, but Amorim will inherit some talented players and will relish working with the likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo and Amad, who are all yet to reach their ceilings.
Mainoo and Garnacho finished in the top 10 placings of the Kopa Trophy, the award given to the best Under-21 player, last month and have become established players for England and Argentina respectively, which is incredible given they were playing for United’s Under-18s in 2022.
The pair were responsible for the goals in the FA Cup final against City last season and are two players Amorim should build his team around. It’s going to be fascinating to watch Mainoo and Garnacho develop further under Amorim and they should be mainstays in the team for years to come.
Garnacho’s goal from the bench against Leicester at the weekend was wonderful and the ‘fan’ who was responsible for his toned-back celebration should hang their head in shame.
Amad’s breakthrough into the team hasn’t been as straightforward but he’s suddenly got momentum behind him again and it’s a scandal Erik ten Hag was overlooking him for Antony.
His performance against PAOK in the Europa League last week was outstanding and he backed that up with another bright display against Leicester. Amad’s backheel for Bruno Fernandes’ opening goal was a stroke of genius and he vindicated Ruud van Nistelrooy’s decision to start him.
How Amorim fits Garnacho and Amad into his system – there should be no concerns with Mainoo – remains to be seen but they are clearly the team’s best wingers on current form.
When the 2027/28 season begins, Amad will be 25 years old, Garnacho will be 23 and Mainoo will be 22, which shows why it’s so exciting for United to have all three of them at the club.
Despite being so young, the trio are currently some of the best players in the dressing room and they should have enough quality to form part of a potentially title-winning squad.
Youth, courage and success are the founding principles of United and will continue to be.