How Ruben Amorim can save Manchester United's season with new formation and radical overhaul
Manchester United's season can still be saved if they act quickly, and Ruben Amorim is a man who works quickly.
talkSPORT understands that the Sporting Lisbon coach has agreed take charge of Old Trafford after Erik ten Hag was fired on Mondays.
The Red Devils are in 14th place in the Premier League, after breaking records of all the wrong reasons during the 2023/24 campaign.
It is symptomatic of a wider decline since Sir Alex Ferguson resigned in 2013, not unlike the situation at Sporting when Amorim took over in 2019.
The Portuguese giants had not lifted the Primeira Liga title since 2001. Since their appointment, they have won it twice, in addition to three other trophies.
Like United, Sporting were a club in disarray when they made the bold decision to pay £8.3m for Amorim's services.
The former midfielder was only 35 years old and two years into his coaching career, but his achievements in Braga had been astonishing.
In his first six weeks in charge of the Minhotos, Amorim won their first game 7-1, beat Porto in the national cup final and recorded the club's first away win against Benfica in 65 years.
He was only in charge of Braga for three months before Sporting made him the third most expensive manager in football history and, in that time, his team only lost twice.
Results are one thing, but culture is another and, as with Braga, Amorim instantly transformed Sporting.
The club had recently lost Bruno Fernandes to Man United, which Amorim took as an opportunity to rebuild the club with an intense focus on youth.
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Players such as Nuno Santos, Pedro Porro and Joao Palhinha arrived in the summer of 2020, while Gonçalo Inácio, Matheus Nunes and Nuno Mendes were among those promoted to the first team from the academy.
Sporting went 32 games unbeaten in Amorim's first full season, setting a new national record, with a fearless team full of young players.
Despite the loss of key men, Amorim has kept Sporting competitive and unwavering in style, which was rewarded with a second league title last season.
The 39-year-old is expected to bring that unwavering focus to Old Trafford.
talkSPORT understands that Amorim is married to a 3-4-3 formation, attacking in a 3-2-5 shape and then defending as a 5-2-3, radically different to United's system under Ten Hag.
Speaking on talkSPORT, football columnist Henry Winter said: “They have a fantastic manager who plays a completely different style.
“He plays 3-4-3. It will be different from 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.
“So, once again, they will have to enter the transfer market and get stronger, bring in stronger characters, stronger players physically and mentally.”
Sporting are not only known for their high-intensity, possession-based approach: there is pragmatism in Amorim's team.
United's incoming manager is a known admirer of Jose Mourinho, and his teams are notoriously difficult to score against.
European football expert Kevin Hatchard told talkSPORT: “It will be an attack but there is also pragmatism. They play possession-based attacking football. But if you look at that season in which they won the First League title for the first time, they only conceded 20 goals.
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“He has not hidden the fact that he has admiration for José Mourinho. And in fact he went to visit Mourinho when he was Manchester United manager. So it's that mix.
“Yes, they play exciting football. Anyone who has seen them will know that there is a lot of breadth to their game. They involve the sides.
“They had Pedro Porro, before he went to Spurs, they also had Nuno Mendes before he went to PSG and now they also have some very interesting full-backs there. So yes, they play exciting football.
“They score goals, but they also have that structure.”
talkSPORT understands United bosses are pushing for get Amorim in place ahead of Chelsea visit in the Premier League on Sunday, while interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy will oversee the Carabao Cup clash against Leicester on Wednesday.
If Amorim arrives before the Chelsea clash, he will be missing several key players including Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Tyrell Malacia and Antony.
But with several of those players close to returning, what does Amorim's dream United XI look like?
In goal, André Onana has been one of the few positives for United in recent weeks, and his ability with the ball at his feet makes him a perfect candidate for Amorim.
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In defence, Amorim could be forced to rely on former Benfica teammate Victor Lindelof or Jonny Evans on the right side of his three due to the club's injury crisis.
However, Yoro or Maguire would likely compete for that position when available, with Matthijs de Ligt better suited for the central role and left-footed Lisandro Martínez fitting in well at the other side.
Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot will fight for the right-back spot, while both could substitute on the other flank if necessary.
Although Amorim is known to take risks with youth and left-backs are scarce, that could present an opportunity for 17-year-old Harry Amass, who was called up to the first team in April.
In midfield, Amorim prefers two defensive players in a double pivot. Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, although experienced, are 32 years old and could be snubbed in favor of a more youthful partnership with Manuel Ugarte and Mainoo.
There is no place for a traditional number 10 in Amorim's system, meaning club captain Bruno Fernandes would have to occupy one of the wide positions in the front three and move into the central areas.
Amorim has been blessed with a Sporting's goal machine: Viktor Gyokereswho was signed from Championship club Coventry in 2023.
The wingers are equally important, with former Tottenham youngster Marcus Edwards emerging as a star player for Sporting under Amorim.
Rasmus Hojlund will hope to remain United's starting striker over Joshua Zirkzee, leaving one striker position remaining.
Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo will hope to prove they deserve to start for Amorim, although Alejandro Garnacho appears to have the biggest claim on his recent form.
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