Ruben Amorim is now Manchester United head coach having begun his reign on Monday.
The Reds boss has a near two week wait until his first match – at Ipswich Town on Sunday week – but there is plenty of work to do between now and then. His first few days will be spent familiarising himself with his new surroundings and staff before the players return from either international duty or a few days off.
United have markedly improved under the now departed Ruud van Nistelrooy but there is plenty of work to be done with the Reds still in the bottom half and with work to do in Europe. Amorim has three clear priorities.
ALSO READ: Amorim makes Van Nistelrooy decision as United confirm four departures
ALSO READ: What Amorim did when he arrived at Carrington to start work
Results first
Amorim will no doubt want to implement a style and put his own stamp on this misfiring United side but priority number one is results. The Reds are 14th in the Premier League following the weekend defeat to West Ham and are closer to the relegation zone than the top four.
The first task is to climb the table and maximise the potential of an immediate fixture list that includes several home matches and several fixtures against bottom half sides. United also need to find victories in the Europa League having managed just one in four outings. Going out at the first hurdle is unthinkable and Amorim must ensure United are at least involved in the play-offs come the new year.
Amorim’s Sporting hit seven in his first match in charge while he was able to lift the title within 18 months. He knows how to get results quickly.
Striker conundrum
United have struggled for goals this season and their two most recent striker acquisitions, Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund, have yet to fully convince. The latter has the potential to become a focal point of the attack while Zirkzee’s role remains uncertain given his lack of goalscoring prowess.
Amorim could do with getting a tune out of both to ensure United are able to turn chances into goals. It wasn’t too long ago that Marcus Rashford was enjoying the season of his career yet he regressed last term – though the early signs this season have been promising. Restoring confidence up top feels like a big priority.
And United can look at Viktor Gyokeres for inspiration. Not so long ago he was in the Championship with Coventry, he’s exploded onto the world stage at Sporting with almost a goal a game and Amorim has played a role in helping the frontman take his game to the next level.
The X factor
Old Trafford used to be a place of intimidation, where teams were beaten in the tunnel. Now it’s nothing more than a welcome mat.
United have lost the fortress that served them so well and if they can find a tempo, style and intensity to worry teams and lift the fans then they can begin to rebuild that Old Trafford fear factor. United’s support, particularly away, is superb and if Amorim can hit the ground running with the basic template expected of United – front-foot football, attacking intent, effort and intensity – then players and supporters can start to create a club with a clear identity.
Sporting’s final home match under Amorim showed how united the club was with a thumping 4-1 win over Manchester City where players, manager and fans were all together. Amorim fostered that, with results and success obviously helping, but it was only a little over 12 months before his arrival that the unrest was so patent at the club that fans stormed the training ground in protest.
