It hasnโt taken long for Ruben Amorim to find a new, shiny job only months after his Manchester United sacking. As AC Milan look set to announce him as their new manager, they can learn a lot from his time at Old Trafford.
It is fair to say that Manchester United arenโt the easiest club to manage. There is constantly non-football talk and the job comes with the pressure of managing the often-unrealistic demands of a club that has fallen off a cliff over the last decade or so.
Amorim did find himself in a difficult situation from the start. But even then, a lot shone through, when it comes to his ideas and methods. Here are some lessons Milan can learn from the Portugueseโs time in England, especially as the Rossoneri arenโt the most well-run club either.
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Tactical stubborness
Amorim was constantly bashed for his constant insistence on using his own ways. The 3-4-2-1 system was the brand he brought to the plate and despite inconveniences, he never budget to fit the needs of a giant footballing institution.
When managing clubs that have huge demands but often non-perfect sporting plans, alterting your setup to tailor their needs becomes very important.ย
This adaptability was constantly missing from Amorim. Granted, he didnโt always get the signings he wouldโve needed and he hinted at that constantly. But that happens all the time to managers at massive clubs. They adapt their ideas but Amorim did the complete opposite.
Milan has always been a job that has needed a manager who puts out fires, adapts to the needs and puts the club above himself. It is fair to say that Amorim didnโt do that at another massive club.
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Sporting project
Manchester Unitedโs lack of a viable sporting project has held them back for over ten years now. Amorim also felt the worst of that, as he came in with his radical ideas in the middle of the season. This gave him little time and credit in the bank to do things his way.
Even if the Jim Ratcliffe ownership knew his ways, they made a major tactical change in the middle of the season after sacking Ten Hag. This often held Amorim back from executing his ideas to perfection. The ripple effect of this poor planning was felt across his tenure, which ended poorly.
Sporting, however, had a sporting plan โ pun intended. This allowed Amorim a solid foundation to execute his ideas. This is something Milan can learn from as they themselves have struggled for a sporting identity for the last two seasons.
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Player power
Amorim clearly made it clear at Manchester United that his system is above all else. Even if Kobbie Mainoo offered more quality than any other midfield option, he was excluded because he may not have fit his style. As a result, the Englishmanโs career took a hit and he couldโve ended up in Serie A. It came to a point where Manchester United couldโve lost the record of fielding a youth graduate in the first-team for 88 years in a row.
That was a classic example of how Amorim is. He is hell bent on his ideas, even if that may somewhat be at odds with what the club wants.
Beyond that, it signifies how he wants very specific players to make his setup work. What a player can mean to a fanbase can matter little to him. If he doesnโt suit his style, he is unlikely to use him regularly.
Milan have a host of players who might not suit his setup either. The good part is how often they played in a back three under Max Allegri but the on-the-ball dynamics are much different for Amorim.ย
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Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN
