Amorim’s First Year at Manchester United: Europa Heartbreak and Premier League Humiliation

Manchester United hired Rúben Amorim hoping for the same sparkle he gave Sporting CP, yet twelve months on the Portuguese coach finds himself defending a season that mixed a startling Europa League run with the club’s worst domestic finish since the late 80s. Old Trafford still backs him, but only because the alternative—another expensive reset—looks even riskier.

A rocky transition from Lisbon to Old Trafford

The move that took Amorim from Alvalade to Manchester last November was sold as a natural leap for a coach celebrated in Portugal for modern pressing systems and fearless promotion of youth. Inside the Premier League, however, that blueprint ran head-first into faster turnovers, aerial duels and winter schedules he had never experienced. By April, even the manager admitted his cherished 3-4-3 was "a shock" for a squad that had already changed hands twice in three seasons. Portuguese supporters who followed every minute on streaming platforms saw familiar patterns—short triangles, advanced wing-backs—but also unfamiliar fragility whenever opponents countered down the flanks.

League nightmare and statistical reality

The raw numbers still sting. United collected 42 points, finishing 15th, their lowest placing since 1989/90. The team lost 18 league matches and ended with a goal difference of -9. Over 25 Premier League fixtures under Amorim, only 7 produced victories, a win rate of 31.6 %. That ratio contrasts sharply with the 79 % he posted in his final full year at Sporting. Supporters in Portugal, used to seeing Bruno Fernandes dictate rhythm for the national side, struggled to recognise their captain while he carried United’s attack almost alone, top-scoring with 19 goals and delivering 20 assists across all competitions. The stark conclusion among Old Trafford analysts is that the squad under-performed its expected goals by a wide margin, confirming what eyes already saw: plenty of chances, little composure.

Europa League run: glory missed at the last hurdle

Paradoxically, European evenings provided the season’s brightest memories. Amorim guided United to the Europa League final in Dublin, only to fall against Tottenham. The journey revived Old Trafford’s soundtrack—seven straight wins, late strikes from Amad Diallo, and a semi-final comeback versus Milan that momentarily silenced critics. For viewers in Portugal, the final itself had special intrigue: a tactical duel between two coaches who share Iberian roots and a preference for high lines. United dominated possession, produced a higher xG than Spurs, yet capitulated 2-1 after an extra-time header. The defeat ensured that instead of lifting silverware, Amorim’s first English campaign ended without a trophy, amplifying pressure back home where European success often defines a coach’s reputation.

Dressing-room tremors and tactical soul-searching

Reports of a smashed television in the dressing room after a February capitulation at Villa offered a glimpse of fractured discipline. Senior players privately voiced concerns about training intensity, while youngsters celebrated for their emergence under Amorim at Sporting feared being cast aside when results turned. Insiders say the coach has since moderated his demands, allowing new goalkeeper Senne Lammens to play long when pressed, a small but symbolic deviation from rigid build-up principles. He also conceded that English football’s winter grind forces rotation; Casemiro and Maguire, both heavy earners with contracts expiring, missed long stretches through injury, exposing a thin core.

How the board and squad judge the Portuguese coach

Publicly, United executives describe the season as "painful yet informative". Behind closed doors, they recognise a paradox: the club’s data department supports Amorim’s methods, arguing that underlying metrics—pressing efficiency, field tilt, shot creation—rank in the league’s top eight. Players interviewed by Portuguese media cite clearer automatisms than under previous regimes, even if consistency is still lacking. The board extended his contract until 2027, partly because sacking another manager would trigger costly compensation and deepen the sense of chaos that has plagued post-Ferguson years. Yet privately the message is blunt: finish outside the Champions League places again and all bets are off.

What must change before the next kick-off

Looking ahead, the January window looms large. The Africa Cup of Nations, running through mid-January, will remove Mazraoui, Diallo and Mbeumo from Amorim’s preferred eleven, forcing academy prospects into high-stakes fixtures. The club hopes to recruit a controllable midfielder—one with Casemiro-style steel but lower wages—and remains open to loan exits for Kobbie Mainoo or Joshua Zirkzee if it frees resources. Crucially, Amorim has promised supporters in Portugal he will "adapt without abandoning identity": expect a hybrid back four when defending and a return to vertical transitions that first caught United’s eye. The coach knows that in England patience evaporates quickly; another slide down the table would end the honeymoon permanently. For now, though, Manchester and Lisbon alike wait to see whether year two writes a redemption arc or the final chapter.