Ruben Amorim must realize the Premier League is on a different planet to Portuguese football, says Paul Merson, as Manchester United prepare to face Liverpool on Super Sunday.
The manager – who replaced Erik ten Hag in November from Sporting Lisbon – has struggled with results and performance since arriving at Old Trafford.
Since beating Manchester City 2-1, Man Utd have lost their last four games in all competitions, including a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle. It prompted Amorim to admit that his team is in a relegation battle.
Their task doesn't get any easier either: they face in-form Liverpool at Anfield this weekend, making the most of the Premier League, live on Sky Sports.
Speaking on The Football Show, Merson gave his views on Man Utd's current situation and why Amorim must quickly adapt to the rigors of the Premier League.
Merson tells Amorim: PL is on a different planet from Portuguese football
As is their form, he probably means that they are in a relegation battle, and they have Southampton at home in the next league match. You'd expect them to win that match, but right now it's not a good watch.
When the teams came out recently [against Newcastle]I thought they did well to keep it 2-0.
[Christian] Eriksen and Casemiro have been top players, but to play them in midfield the manager has to get used to the fact that this is not Portuguese football. This is the Premier League now. It is from a different planet than Portuguese football.
When he met them in midfield [Sandro] Tonali, Bruno [Guimaraes] and Joelinton, I thought 'these two were going to be absolutely destroyed'. And like I said, I thought they did well to only lose by two.
I don't know how much money they have with Financial Fair Play. They have a lot of players to get rid of at the same time. This is a tough job [at Man Utd].
You're talking about one of the biggest clubs in the world… but right now they're everywhere.
The way he wants to play doesn't suit Man Utd. They don't have the personnel to play the way he wants to play. The most important thing when you play with three players at the back is that you have to have excellent full-backs and they don't have excellent full-backs. Both full-backs are good defensively, but they are not great going forward.
'Amorim would have suited Chelsea better than Man Utd'
I've said it a few times: I think the manager would suit Chelsea. Don't get me wrong, Enzo Maresca was excellent, but if you had to pick a club for him in the Premier League to play the way Amorim wants to play, you would put him at Chelsea. Chelsea has a lot of central defenders who are quick.
They have full-backs who are great [Ben] Chillwell, [Malo] Gusto, [Reece] James – natural full-backs who can get forward and defend.
They hold midfield players with their legs in them [Moises] Caicedo and [Romeo] Lavia, and then they have the talent for the future. I think he would tick the box at Chelsea. I don't see how that fits with Man Utd.
There is so much work to be done to get to the way he wants to play, and that will take a long time because there are a lot of players coming in and out. And with the way the rules are now, I don't know how long that will last.
'Man Utd beating Liverpool would be biggest PL shock'
If Man Utd were to win at Liverpool this weekend it would be the biggest shock in the Premier League.
Whatever happened in the other results this weekend, even if West Ham won at Man City it wouldn't be a bigger shock than Man Utd beating Liverpool. It has already gone that far.
All you can hope for if you're a Man Utd fan is a 0-0. I know they were going to beat Man City, but let's be honest: Man City felt very comfortable until the last ten minutes of that match.
I'm worried about Man Utd. If Liverpool score early, I can't imagine what the score will be.
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