Manchester United’s underperforming squad has been warned by new manager Ruben Amorim that only captain Bruno Fernandes can be considered “safe” under his leadership.
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Amorim, currently managing Sporting Lisbon, is set to take over at Old Trafford after fulfilling his remaining duties with the Portuguese club.
The 39-year-old impressed United fans with his tactical brilliance, especially after guiding Sporting to a stunning 4-1 Champions League win over Manchester City. Upon his arrival, he will inherit a squad low on confidence and in need of significant change.
While Amorim is expected to make several adjustments, he will likely have to work with the current players for the remainder of the season.
United have been linked with a move for Sporting’s star striker Viktor Gyokeres, who has thrived under Amorim’s guidance, but a potential deal for the Swedish forward is expected to take place in January at the earliest.
In the meantime, United’s existing players will be eager to impress their new boss. However, former Arsenal star Paul Merson believes that only Bruno Fernandes is guaranteed a starting position in Amorim’s ideal lineup.
Merson told Sky Sports, “I only see Fernandes as the one for me who is a safe one. He’ll play in behind as No.10 and can play his football. He’s Portuguese, he’ll know him.”
Merson went on to assess the rest of the squad, criticizing the lack of suitable wing-backs and expressing doubts about the compatibility of current forwards with Amorim’s tactical style.
“They haven’t got wing-backs, and I look at Rashford and Garnacho, and I think where are you two going to play?” Merson said.
While Merson acknowledged the tough task ahead for Amorim, he also expressed confidence in the manager’s ability to turn things around, though he cautioned that it would take time.
He added, “It’s such a hard job. You come to Old Trafford, you have to win every game. I’ve talked to people in Portugal, and Sporting fans have told me how good he is.”
Despite the challenges, Merson believes Amorim is the right man for the job, but he will need to navigate Manchester United’s current limitations and financial restrictions before making sweeping changes.
“These players at Manchester United aren’t going anywhere,” he concluded.