Ruben Amorim's reign at Manchester United has produced mixed results. Within the squad there are players who have improved their reputation and others who have fallen badly in the pecking order.
In the wake of a crucial Manchester derby win for Amorim and United, we pick out a number of players who have emerged under the Portuguese and look set for a key role this season. what comes next…
WINNERS
Amad Diallo
The standout star of the Amorim project so far. Whether at wing-back or on the front line, Diallo seems tailor-made for the new head coach and the system he wants to play at United. His starring role in the win at Man City only underlined the point: Diallo is going to be a key player for Amorim's United.
Bruno Fernandes described him as “unstoppable” after that Etihad performance, while he has now been involved in five goals under Amorim, having played in all seven games in charge of the new boss.
It's a big shift in responsibility given to the 22-year-old, as Erik ten Hag gave him just 12 appearances and three starts last season (with all of those starts coming in May). But Diallo – who set the Dutchman up for a big FA Cup extra-time winner against Liverpool – is a clear winner with the arrival of Amorim.
Harry Maguire
Maguire's career at Manchester United has been seriously questioned on more than one occasion in recent years, but after Sunday's derby win he revealed there have been 'really positive' contract talks to extend his deal beyond the end of this season extend. while Amorim called the role in the middle of United's back three the “perfect” role for him.
It now looks like he will be a key player for Amorim.
Injury problems may have kept him on the fringes in the opening games of Amorim's reign, but he has started both major away games at Arsenal and Man City, playing at the heart of a back three – the system in which he played his best performance. appearances for England and Gareth Southgate.
On Sunday, he was tops for interceptions and clearances. His physicality and ball-playing ability are well known. Ten Hag may have told Maguire he could leave a few summers ago, but Amorim appears to be shaping his defense around the former United captain.
Noussair Mazraoui
Noussair Mazraoui has emerged as one of the most obvious winners under Amorim. Mazraoui signed for £12.8m from Bayern Munich and Mazraoui's performances so far have put him in the conversation for one of the summer's signings.
Following his performance against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League, Amorim described the Moroccan international as the club's “future” as Mazraoui played in Amorim's first win as United boss. After the match, Amorim also praised the full-back's ability to fill different roles. “He's a top player. He understands the game,” Amorim said.
“He knows how to attack, he is very technical, he is very good defensively and he is very good one-on-one. He is a modern player. I think he is the future of our team. you think we need more.” Players like Nous who can control the pace are really good and comfortable with the ball.”
Mazraoui's versatility has seen him play in both full-back positions, while also slotting into the back three. Mazraoui has made a seamless transition to life under Amorim.
Rasmus Hojlund
Hojlund has plundered five goals in six games for Amorim – as many as he had scored in his previous 25 games for United before the Portuguese arrived.
Amorim's rotation policy left him on the bench after scoring twice against Bodo/Glimt and again after scoring against Nottingham Forest, but he backed up his match-winning double as a substitute against Viktoria Plzen with a run at City – and on another day he could have won a penalty for his team.
Hojlund could continue to share the No.9 workload with Joshua Zirkzee and Marcus Rashford, but early signs suggest United's new closer will play a leading role for Amorim.
LOSERS
Marcus Rasford
Rashford had a point to prove after the previous international break with a new club manager in the dugout and critics over how he had spent his time away from England. There was a quick and positive response to that situation with a fine goal just seconds into Amorim's reign, before a double against Everton signaled a player getting back on track.
But since then its course has diverged in worrying ways. Amorim's explanation as to why Rashford was left out of the squad to face Manchester City was damning and should serve as a wake-up call for the talented but often frustrating striker.
The rumors about a departure in January are only increasing. That would have been unthinkable for United supporters after his 30-goal 2022/23 season, but thanks to a poor campaign last year – when off-field issues made headlines – Rashford's short-lived spark must be reignited last month if he is to prove. for Amorim one can rely on him in the long run.
Alejandro Garnacho
“How does Alejandro Garnacho fit into that?” Was the question most fans asked themselves prior to Amorim's arrival. Some had him as a wing-back, others were convinced he could fill one of the front three positions. However, the first signals indicate that this is a question that has remained unanswered.
Garnacho was one of the key omissions from the Manchester derby side, but had previously featured in every game under Amorim. In four starts under United's Portuguese boss, Garnacho has scored just one goal in United's Europa League win against Bodo/Glimt while being part of the front three.
However, with Amorim preferring a more creative player either side of his striker, the 20-year-old has fallen down the pecking order.
When United chased Viktoria Plzen late on, Garnacho was introduced at left-back, but with his defensive contributions questionable, the Argentine may find it difficult to adapt to the position in the longer term.
Casemiro
Casemiro still has to play the full ninety minutes under new boss Amorim. When he was named in Amorim's first starting XI at Ipswich, it raised a few eyebrows as his selection meant Manuel Ugarte, who had previously played under Amorim at Sporting, was left on the bench.
Casemiro appeared to be building momentum under former interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy before Amorim's arrival.
While the Dutchman was in charge at Old Trafford, Casemiro scored twice and started each of the four matches, putting behind a disappointing spell under previous boss Ten Hag. However, Casemiro is now on a run of three consecutive league appearances as an unused substitute, which will be uncharted territory for the former Real Madrid player.
Christian Eriksen
Eriksen was also one of the first names called into Amorim's first starting XI, but has not featured since. Instead, the return of Kobbie Mainoo from injury and the use of Bruno Fernandes in a slightly deeper role have made Eriksen redundant.
Like Casemiro, Eriksen also enjoyed a renaissance earlier this season, scoring four goals and three assists in appearances in the Carabao Cup and Europa League.
While he may have some of the traits that Amorim likes, the physicality and athleticism of some of his peers makes them better prepared for his system. Eriksen's lack of commitment so early under Amorim is likely to have some impact on whether the Dane decides to extend his stay at Old Trafford, as his current contract expires in the summer.
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