No doubts: Three things Ruben Amorim got right at Manchester United

Manchester United started 2026 by dropping a huge bombshell by sacking manager Ruben Amorim.

Amorim endured more difficult afternoons than triumphant ones, yet United still find themselves sitting sixth in the Premier League table.

Pinning the blame solely on this turbulent spell, especially while the squad has been depleted by the absence of eight senior players, feels harsh and ultimately cowardly.

The decision has left INEOS with more questions than answers, once again exposing a worrying lack of maturity in handling the footballing operations of a club this enormous.

United unquestionably suffered through a grim run of results under Amorim, but it would be wrong to ignore the three major foundations he quietly strengthened behind the scenes.

Team culture

Amorim was never a ‘yes’ man. He was stubborn, and sometimes too stubborn.

The Portuguese showed the exit door to academy poster boy Marcus Rashford shortly after arriving in November 2024.

Rashford was omitted from 11 matchday squads due to a perceived lack of intensity in training before eventually joining Aston Villa on loan.

Alejandro Garnacho also found himself frozen out of Old Trafford after repeatedly misusing social media to damaging effect.

For the first time in years, players began behaving with greater professionalism away from the pitch, a stark contrast to the chaos under previous regimes.

One of the biggest wins for Amorim was stopping the team leaks.

United’s starting XIs had regularly surfaced on social media hours before kick-off, gifting opponents an unnecessary tactical edge, but restoring that basic discipline demanded relentless authority from the manager.

Attacking set-pieces

Under Amorim, United quietly became one of the most dangerous set-piece sides in the league.

Only Arsenal have scored more goals from set-pieces this season, a remarkable turnaround for a team that had long wasted such opportunities.

Set-pieces had been a recurring weakness for years, but Amorim and his staff transformed them into a genuine attacking weapon.

Defensive frailties at the other end persisted, though those issues were often amplified by unreliable goalkeeping from Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir.

Regardless of who takes charge next, United must continue to dominate set-pieces, as they remain one of the most decisive weapons in modern football.

Raising work-rate and intensity

There was never any doubt that the players respected Amorim, as evidenced by their willingness to run, press and suffer for his philosophy.

The squad bought into his aggressive pressing and counter-pressing demands, showing far greater physical commitment than in previous seasons.

Almost every player posted noticeable improvements in work-rate compared to their performances under Erik ten Hag.

Fitness levels improved across the squad, contributing to a reduction in muscle-related injuries.

This kind of physical and cultural transformation does not happen overnight.

Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .