In his first summer at Sporting, Rúben Amorim oversaw 25 departures.He rebuilt the squad with conviction, not compromise.
This is the story of how everything changed, and why Manchester United’s summer might not be as hopeless as it seems.
A THREAD 🧵
This is the story of how everything changed, and why Manchester United’s summer might not be as hopeless as it seems.
A THREAD 🧵
Hard to imagine now, but when Rúben Amorim took over Sporting, the club was in chaos.
25 players were moved on.
One year later: they were champions.
32 games unbeaten.
Sometimes the reset has to come before the rise.
25 players were moved on.
One year later: they were champions.
32 games unbeaten.
Sometimes the reset has to come before the rise.
When Amorim walked through the doors in 2020, Sporting weren’t just underperforming, they were traumatised.
Two years earlier, ultras had stormed the training ground and assaulted players and staff. It triggered an exodus, with several key players tearing up their contracts
Two years earlier, ultras had stormed the training ground and assaulted players and staff. It triggered an exodus, with several key players tearing up their contracts
That summer, Amorim faced the same question he faces now:
How do you rebuild something broken, without first tearing it down?
At Sporting, the answer was ruthless.
25 players out. No sentiment. No compromise.
Because when the foundations are rotten, renovation isn’t enough.
How do you rebuild something broken, without first tearing it down?
At Sporting, the answer was ruthless.
25 players out. No sentiment. No compromise.
Because when the foundations are rotten, renovation isn’t enough.
This part will hurt. Your favourite players? Some of them will have to go.
RA doesn’t just want profiles that fit his system, he wants personalities that fit his dressing room. Players who fight for the badge. Who put the team above themselves.
Who treat every title as a must.
RA doesn’t just want profiles that fit his system, he wants personalities that fit his dressing room. Players who fight for the badge. Who put the team above themselves.
Who treat every title as a must.
Anyone who doesn’t? A virus to the culture he’s trying to build.
He moved on established starters. Even players who had just arrived the season before.
Amorim isn’t wedded to his system, like a lot of people suggest. He’s loyal to the culture.
If you fit that, he’ll find a way to fit you into the XI.
Amorim isn’t wedded to his system, like a lot of people suggest. He’s loyal to the culture.
If you fit that, he’ll find a way to fit you into the XI.
Four players who had only just joined were already deemed surplus. One sold. Three loaned.
This matters for United.
Amorim won’t care if you cost €70M or signed last summer. If the mentality/quality isn’t right, you’re out.
(Højlund, Onana, even Garna, no one gets a free pass
This matters for United.
Amorim won’t care if you cost €70M or signed last summer. If the mentality/quality isn’t right, you’re out.
(Højlund, Onana, even Garna, no one gets a free pass
The most impressive part of Amorim’s rebuild?
It wasn’t what he bought, it's the resources he used
.
He trusted the academy. Promoted youth.
Nuno Mendes. Gonçalo Inácio. Daniel Bragança. Tiago Tomás. Matheus Nunes.
All became starters. All shaped the title-winning season.
It wasn’t what he bought, it's the resources he used
.
He trusted the academy. Promoted youth.
Nuno Mendes. Gonçalo Inácio. Daniel Bragança. Tiago Tomás. Matheus Nunes.
All became starters. All shaped the title-winning season.
And now at United, the same instinct is showing.
Obi. Amass. Heaven
Amorim has already handed debuts to several academy names, but don’t confuse that for blind faith.
He prefers youth alongside experience, not as the foundation.
One supports the other. That’s how they grow.
Obi. Amass. Heaven
Amorim has already handed debuts to several academy names, but don’t confuse that for blind faith.
He prefers youth alongside experience, not as the foundation.
One supports the other. That’s how they grow.
Amorim said it himself:
“We have to be brave in the summer.”
And he’s right.
You can’t be afraid of mistakes. You can’t be afraid to let go of players who might thrive elsewhere.
That’s part of a real rebuild.
“We have to be brave in the summer.”
And he’s right.
You can’t be afraid of mistakes. You can’t be afraid to let go of players who might thrive elsewhere.
That’s part of a real rebuild.
United must face the current reality:
No European football.
No leadership core.
No winners mentality.
The worst season in modern history.
This isn’t a group you build around. It’s a group you build from the ashes of.
No European football.
No leadership core.
No winners mentality.
The worst season in modern history.
This isn’t a group you build around. It’s a group you build from the ashes of.
You can’t make exceptions for sentiment.
Not for Højlund. Not for Onana.
Not even for breakout names like Garnacho or Mainoo.
At this level, potential doesn’t buy you trophies.
Only mentality & quality does.
The only untouchables right now? Yoro. Maybe Bruno, for now.
Not for Højlund. Not for Onana.
Not even for breakout names like Garnacho or Mainoo.
At this level, potential doesn’t buy you trophies.
Only mentality & quality does.
The only untouchables right now? Yoro. Maybe Bruno, for now.
Sources indicate Amorim will have around £100m to spend this summer, and that’s before outgoings.
You still have:
• Álvaro to Real
• Rashford possibly leaving
• Sancho, Antony on the way out
United still hold sellable assets:
Garna. Mainoo. Zirkzee. Højlund. Even Bayındır.
You still have:
• Álvaro to Real
• Rashford possibly leaving
• Sancho, Antony on the way out
United still hold sellable assets:
Garna. Mainoo. Zirkzee. Højlund. Even Bayındır.
Reading names like Mainoo or Garnacho will sting.
But this is the uncomfortable truth:
Sacrifices will HAVE to be made. No matter the manager. United are no longer in a position to protect everyone.
If the goal is titles, nothing should be off the table.
But this is the uncomfortable truth:
Sacrifices will HAVE to be made. No matter the manager. United are no longer in a position to protect everyone.
If the goal is titles, nothing should be off the table.
If United are brave enough to make the right sacrifices, and I believe they will, then names like Gyökeres, Mbuemo, Cunha, even Mastantuono (a tier-1 talent) are still realistic. (1/2)
There are also smart loan deals, free transfers, and the academy.
There are also smart loan deals, free transfers, and the academy.
The rebuild won’t rely solely on the chequebook. (2/2)
Now let’s talk results, or lack of.
A lot of Amorim’s Premier League losses followed a familiar script:
United controls the game. They press well. They create chances.
But they don’t score, and the opponent does, often from their first big chance. (1/2)
A lot of Amorim’s Premier League losses followed a familiar script:
United controls the game. They press well. They create chances.
But they don’t score, and the opponent does, often from their first big chance. (1/2)
And that’s the story of two key positions.
You can’t win consistently if your build-up dies at your striker’s feet, and your keeper lets in goals that swing matches the wrong way.
United are weak in the two most important areas of a football team. (2/2)
You can’t win consistently if your build-up dies at your striker’s feet, and your keeper lets in goals that swing matches the wrong way.
United are weak in the two most important areas of a football team. (2/2)
Too often, United dominate early phases of a match, only for Onana to concede from the opponent’s first real shot.
Now they’re chasing the game. The shape breaks. The plan dies. (1/3)
Now they’re chasing the game. The shape breaks. The plan dies. (1/3)
On the other end, Højlund doesn’t get into scoring positions. Even when he does, the build-up often ends with a miscontrol or wrong decision.
In the Europa League final, Zirkzee did more in shape/build-up with one touch, than Rasmus for the full 70 minutes. (2/3)
In the Europa League final, Zirkzee did more in shape/build-up with one touch, than Rasmus for the full 70 minutes. (2/3)
And the solution isn’t even about “world-class” names.
It’s about functionality. A striker who makes the right runs, holds the ball, finishes at a decent clip. A keeper who saves the shots they’re supposed to.
That alone would have turned United’s season on its head. (3/3)
It’s about functionality. A striker who makes the right runs, holds the ball, finishes at a decent clip. A keeper who saves the shots they’re supposed to.
That alone would have turned United’s season on its head. (3/3)
This thread wasn’t about defending Amorim.
It’s about context. And how much can change fast when the structure is right.
From shambles to contenders isn’t fantasy.
It’s what Amorim already did once, at a club in worse shape (and less resources) than United.
It’s about context. And how much can change fast when the structure is right.
From shambles to contenders isn’t fantasy.
It’s what Amorim already did once, at a club in worse shape (and less resources) than United.
A stormy season often hides a coming calm. There is vision behind the chaos. There is a coach who’s done this before.
And there is still a summer ahead with power to reshape everything.
If United are brave enough to walk the hard road, there is light at the end of it.
And there is still a summer ahead with power to reshape everything.
If United are brave enough to walk the hard road, there is light at the end of it.
Must add: The sacrifices that need to be made this summer, aren’t for RA
It’s for the club. No matter the managers, if United really wants a rebuild, sacrifices HAVE to be made. REGARDLESS of who the manager is
Regardless the manager. Other options would be, no sacrifices
It’s for the club. No matter the managers, if United really wants a rebuild, sacrifices HAVE to be made. REGARDLESS of who the manager is
Regardless the manager. Other options would be, no sacrifices
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