Interview by MUFCinfo.com
MUFCinfo.com caught up with Premier League analyst Taylor Morris from BettingTips4you.com to assess Ruben Amorim’s transition into the Manchester United dugout, the enormous task of overhauling a faltering squad, and the Red Devils’ realistic targets following a historically poor 2024/25 campaign.
What’s the most pressing challenge facing Ruben Amorim at Manchester United?
Taylor Morris: It’s unquestionably the scale of the rebuild, both tactically and culturally. Amorim is inheriting a squad that finished 15th in the Premier League with a negative goal difference – the club’s worst domestic season since 1974. The fact that United scored just 44 goals and conceded 54 underlines a severe lack of balance across all areas of the pitch.
He’s stepping into a club that has seen managerial churn, underperforming high-profile signings, and growing fan discontent – all while expectations remain sky high. United have European pedigree, but this is a team in structural disrepair. Amorim has no grace period. With a demanding fixture list to open the season and six major transfer decisions unresolved, he must impose his tactical identity immediately while managing significant turnover in the dressing room.
Is Amorim the right manager to take this project forward?
Taylor Morris: He’s certainly bold, and that’s what United need. Amorim favours a fluid 3-4-3 with inverted wing-backs and pressing triggers high up the pitch. That represents a sharp departure from the reactive and often passive setups seen last season.
He showed at Sporting CP that he can maximise output from compact squads while nurturing young talent – a potential asset given United’s commitment to promoting youth. His belief in positional rotations and wide overloads fits well with players like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, assuming both deals are finalised. However, it will come down to whether the squad can grasp and execute his methodology quickly enough. United’s early fixtures include Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool – the risk is that poor early results could derail morale before the system has time to settle.
What tactical changes can supporters expect to see?
Taylor Morris: Expect greater structural discipline compared to last season, with far more focus on vertical progression. Amorim builds through the thirds with calculated risk, often encouraging his centre-backs to step into midfield and create passing lanes from deep.
We’ll likely see Matheus Cunha deployed as one of the dual attacking midfielders in the front three, with Bryan Mbeumo operating from the right channel if his signing is completed. There’s speculation about Amad Diallo being moved to a right wing-back role – an intriguing if unconventional adaptation given his technical ability and work rate.
The pressing will be higher and more coordinated, particularly with the back three stepping up to compress space. Amorim’s biggest challenge will be ensuring his midfield can withstand the demands of such transitions. Without balance, this shape can be brutally exposed – something last season’s 54 goals conceded already attests to.
How pivotal will the transfer window be to Amorim’s success?
Taylor Morris: It’s absolutely vital. Amorim has already brought in Cunha for £62.5m, and the Mbeumo deal is close to completion – that’s a promising start. But the squad still has glaring weaknesses, particularly in central defence and midfield depth.
United are trying to move on several players – Rashford, Sancho, Antony, and Garnacho have all been made available or left out of the US tour. The club needs to generate funds, but inflated wages and poor resale value are proving obstacles. There’s also the goalkeeper situation, with Emiliano Martinez and Andriy Lunin both linked due to questions around Andre Onana’s future.
João Palhinha is reportedly a target, and that would add steel to a midfield that sorely lacks physical presence. But the key theme here is efficiency. United can’t afford another summer of scattergun recruitment. Amorim’s system requires specific profiles – versatile, tactically intelligent players with high stamina. If the window stalls, his hands will be tied.
Are Manchester United ready to compete in the Premier League again?
Taylor Morris: Compete? Possibly. Challenge? Unlikely. This is a club that ended the 2024/25 campaign with just 11 wins and a goal difference of -10. The dysfunction ran deep – from Onana’s inconsistency in goal to a midfield that lacked structure, and a forward line that never clicked. Bruno Fernandes aside, few players stood out consistently.
Amorim must establish clarity and cohesion – something that was completely absent last season. His project is long-term, but the opening fixtures give him no breathing room. Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool all feature within the first ten games. If United are in the bottom half by October, it will test the board’s resolve to support a proper rebuild.
With all that considered, where do you see United finishing in 2025/26?
Taylor Morris: A leap back into the top four feels far-fetched unless Amorim overachieves spectacularly and the club executes a flawless window. The top six is plausible if the Mbeumo deal is concluded and a defensive midfielder of Palhinha’s calibre is added.
Assuming moderate squad reinforcement and a stable start, I’d predict a finish between 6th and 8th. That would represent real progress from last season’s nadir. Anything higher would be an exceptional overperformance given the scale of change underway.
Amorim’s first season won’t define his tenure, but it will set the tone. If the fans see a clear tactical direction and the right players being integrated, patience might just follow – and that’s something this club desperately needs.
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