Ruben Amorim has suffered six defeats in his first 11 games at Manchester United, the worst start for anyone in charge at Old Trafford since 1932.
The Portuguese head coach has not been shy in explaining that United's current project will take time to deliver results. Since taking charge in November, Amorim has said United must 'suffer', 'survive' and weather the 'storm' as he makes changes to a side that had already endured the worst start to a Premier League season before his arrival had experienced.
Amorim has also admitted he does not know how quickly these changes will happen after United's dismal performance and 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle on New Year's Eve. The United boss also hinted at the reality of a possible battle against relegation following his side's recent slump.
It was a tall order for Amorim to take on the United job, replacing Erik ten Hag, but the initial optimism among the former Sporting coach appears to be fading as the reality of the team's existing disadvantages plays into the plans of Amorim starts to gnaw.
Amorim has now managed 11 games in charge of United, but how much has changed compared to Ten Hag's last 11 games?
Difficulty finding a winning formula
Amorim was asked after his side's 2-0 defeat at Wolves on Boxing Day what his side were missing in getting to know his “new system” compared to his opponents, who it was suggested had already adapted to the style of the new boss Vitor Pereira.
“Their team is built on this system,” Amorim replied caustically.
A luxury that Amorim does not have at United, according to him. However, that does not stop him from immediately teaching his philosophy.
United now play in Amorim's famous 3-4-3 system, but with very little time to master the new system, United's results have been inconsistent. Amorim's team has achieved four wins in eleven matches, while six have been lost and one draw.
Eight of those games have come in the Premier League, where he has averaged one point per game so far. Ten Hag scored an average of 1.33 over his last eight.
Problems on both sides of the field
United fans showed their frustrations as Joshua Zirkzee withdrew after just 33 minutes against Newcastle.
The 23-year-old was greeted with cheers and boos as he ran off the pitch in a fast break that has its roots in his unconvincing start at Old Trafford. The Netherlands international has scored twice in eight Premier League appearances under Amorim and has just an expected goals total (xG) of 0.40. A similar problem remains with Amorim's other option to take the lead in Rasmus Hojlund.
The Dane has scored the most goals since Amorim's arrival: five in all competitions in ten games; however, only one has made it to the Premier League. Both forwards have managed to reduce frustration numbers up front, with Hojlund generating an xG of 0.95.
In his last eleven games, Ten Hag's team has scored eighteen goals, while Amorim's team has scored seventeen since he took over. As a result, Amorim's 1.54 goals per match lags behind the average goals per match during Ten Hag's tenure, which is 1.82. United are also making fewer shots than before as Ten Hag's time at Old Trafford came to an end, with the Dutchman's side making 191 shots while Amorim's had 151.
While scoring goals has remained a struggle for United under new management, United have also found it harder to keep clean sheets. So far, United have kept one clean sheet in the Premier League under Amorim, while also conceding 21 goals in that period. In Ten Hag's last eleven games, United conceded fourteen and kept four clean sheets.
Under Ten Hag, United were fiercely criticized for the ease with which teams could shoot at Andre Onana's goal. This has not changed under Amorim: United conceded 114 shots, while Ten Hag's team conceded 115.
Promising signs in possession
Although United are struggling to win games and score goals on both sides, the statistics show that they have made some marginal progress with the ball. A change in Amorim's system has provided a better foundation for United to control possession. United now has an average of 58.72 percent possession, compared to an average of 53.91 percent previously.
Amorim's side are also managing to string together marginally more passes per open series, with United managing 151 under previous management and now managing 183. Series are defined as passages of play belonging to one team and ended by a defensive action, a stoppage in play or a shot.
With Amorim at the helm, United are not only better passers, with more successful passes through their first eleven games, but are also more likely to claim the ball higher up the pitch, winning possession 69 times in the attacking third field compared to 50 times. under Ten Hag.
Changes in personnel
There are changes to United's lineup as Amorim looks for players who can perform in his proposed system.
Of the players who played at least ninety minutes under Ten Hag, Harry Maguire, Amad Diallo and Manuel Ugarte emerge as the players who now see the most minutes on the field.
Conversely, Marcus Rashford, who was left out of four consecutive matchday squads, Alejandro Garnacho, Christian Eriksen and Jonny Evans are among the players playing less.
Despite minor adjustments, the reinstatement of the new manager that United fans were looking forward to when Amorim arrived has not occurred. It now seems that with United going backwards in certain areas, Amorim has his work cut out for him to turn his side's fortunes around sooner or later.
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