All summer, the talk at Manchester United has been about changing the culture of the club.
After 12 years of turmoil since Sir Alex Ferguson retired and United’s worst season in more than half a century, drastic measures were needed to cure the problem – and Ruben Amorim was the man to do it.
A ‘bomb squad’ was created to root out the undesirables he doesn’t want. A leadership team of six players was set up to improve discipline and camaraderie. More than £200million has been spent on new signings who fit Amorim’s particular system.
Behind the scenes, new staff were appointed at all levels to help create an elite environment to match the new Carrington training complex that has undergone a £50m makeover.
But for everything that seems new about United under Amorim, some old issues have dogged the Portuguese coach and his players in the early weeks of the season that has brought one point from two Premier League games against Arsenal and Fulham followed by Wednesday night’s calamitous Carabao Cup defeat at Grimsby Town.
Amorim’s new order collapsed around him at Blundell Park as the League Two side humiliated United by taking a thoroughly deserved two-goal lead and then going through 12-11 on penalties.
More than £200million has been spent on new signings who fit Amorim’s particular system
But for everything that seems new about United under Amorim, some old issues have dogged the Portuguese coach and his players in the early weeks of the season
It has raised serious questions about the direction United are going in under Amorim and the culture he is hoping to create at Old Trafford.
As if it wasn’t alarming enough to hear the 40-year-old admit on the pre-season tour of the US this summer that he dreaded going to games last season because he knew what might happen to his team, the sight of United’s head coach hiding in the dugout at Grimsby during a marathon penalty shootout didn’t inspire any confidence at all.
Can you imagine Ferguson making an admission like that, or cowering out of sight during such a crucial part of game? Would Moyes, Van Gaal, Mourinho, Solskjaer or Ten Hag have done the same? A manager leads from the front, he doesn’t hide at the back.
More worrying were Amorim’s comments after the game, claiming on several occasions that his players ‘spoke really loud about what they want’ with their performance. He wouldn’t elaborate, but it hinted at a disconnect between the coach and his players.
That is never a good sign and nor is the sight of a coach distancing himself from his team in times of trouble, as Amorim so memorably did in January by describing United as maybe the worst team in the club’s history.
On Wednesday night, he hinted at deeper problems, saying: ‘We were completely lost and that’s why I think they spoke really loud. I think this is a little bit the limit. I think something has to change, but you cannot change everything in one summer.’
Still, after spending heavily on new players, this has to be seen as Amorim’s team now. He can no longer hide behind the fact he was appointed in mid-season or hasn’t had enough time to work with his squad. The starting XI at Blundell Park cost in excess of £400m but United lost to a fourth-tier team for the first time in their history.
Much more of this and questions will be asked about whether the change Amorim talked about needs to come in the dugout. This, after all, is a coach whose 24.1 win percentage after seven victories in 21 Premier League games is the same as the twice relegated Neil Warnock.
The starting XI at Blundell Park cost in excess of £400m but United lost to a fourth-tier team for the first time in their history
The sight of United’s head coach hiding in the dugout at Grimsby during a marathon penalty shootout didn’t inspire any confidence at all
It’s no secret that some of the players who have gone out on loan or face an uncertain future at United ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline are wondering if they can outlast Amorim at Old Trafford.
Another peculiar sight at Blundell Park was that of new £74m striker Benjamin Sesko walking up to the spot as the last outfield player in the shootout before both goalkeepers stepped up and we entered a second round of penalties.
Surely Sesko should have been one of the first to put his hand up and take responsibility. Like Amorim, he should have been leading from the front, not hanging back no doubt hoping he wouldn’t be required.
It’s early days, of course, but Sesko has hardly set the world on fire in the three games since moving from RB Leipzig. Two rather anonymous performance as a substitute against Arsenal and Fulham were followed by another disappointing display at Grimsby.
By gazumping Newcastle to sign Sesko, United have all but given up on Rasmus Hojlund but is the Slovenian a significant upgrade based on the early evidence?
Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have made brighter starts and it was unfortunate that they were two players who failed from the spot on Wednesday – but still not a good look.
Cunha’s effort was saved by Grimsby goalkeeper Christy Pym when United had an advantage early in the shootout. After Mbeumo led the fightback from 2-0 down with his first goal for the club and then converted one penalty, his second attempt against the underside of the bar proved decisive.
Cunha and Mbeumo were United’s two top transfer targets this summer. They were signed to lead the revival under Amorim, and there’s every hope they still can. But at a time when old problems are plaguing the new order, there are bound to be concerns that United are once again in danger of becoming a graveyard for good players.
Another peculiar sight at Blundell Park was that of new £74m striker Benjamin Sesko walking up to the spot as the last outfield player in the shootout
New signing Bryan Mbeumo missed a key spot-kick in the shootout as United were consigned to an ugly exit from the Carabao Cup
The glaring issue with signing Mbeumo and Cunha to play in the No.10 positions in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system is that it has forced Bruno Fernandes into a deeper midfield role that doesn’t suit him as well, meaning that United have compromised their captain and best player.
Fernandes struggled at Fulham on Sunday when United’s opponents sliced through the midfield – another familiar problem – and he missed a penalty.
After coming on as half-time substitute in the same position on Wednesday, Fernandes helped drive his team back into the game from two goals down through a torrential second-half downpour, and also converted two attempts in the shootout.
He will be back in the starting line-up against Burnley at Old Trafford on Saturday when Amorim desperately needs a first win of the season before the international break. Ominously, United’s first two games after the resumption are against Manchester City and Chelsea.
We are still in August and there is no suggestion the club are considering Amorim’s position at this stage. They have invested far too much in the project to panic now. But he needs wins and fast.
