Man United’s transition to Amorim will be tough, Maguire says

Manchester United’s transition from Erik ten Hag to Ruben Amorim is not going to be easy as their styles are completely different but the squad has full faith in the new manager, defender Harry Maguire said.   

Under Amorim, United has won four, drawn one, and lost five across competitions.   

“The transition has been tough, to be honest,” Maguire told Sky Sports. “The two managers have very different styles and it’s taken time for us to adapt to Amorim’s methods.”

Ten Hag, who was sacked in November after a poor start to the season, was known for his possession-based, attacking style of play. Amorim, on the other hand, is a more pragmatic manager who prefers to play on the counter-attack.

“Ten Hag wanted us to build from the back and dominate possession,” Maguire explained. “Amorim is more direct and wants us to play with more speed and intensity.”

The change in style has been difficult for some players, Maguire admitted.

“It’s been a big adjustment for everyone,” he said. “But we’re working hard to adapt and we’re confident that we’ll get there in the end.”

Despite the difficult start to his tenure, Maguire believes that Amorim is the right man for the job.   

“He’s a very talented manager,” Maguire said. “He’s got a clear vision for how he wants us to play and he’s very demanding. I think he’s going to be a great success here.”

Maguire also praised Amorim’s man-management skills.

“He’s very good at communicating with the players,” Maguire said. “He’s always giving us feedback and he’s very supportive. I think he’s got the right personality to manage a club like Manchester United.”

The England defender is confident that United will start to see the benefits of Amorim’s methods in the near future.

“We’re still a work in progress,” Maguire said. “But we’re improving every week and I think we’re going to have a strong finish to the season.”

What else did Maguire say?

As well as discussing the transition to Amorim, Maguire also spoke about:

The importance of winning trophies: “We know that we need to start winning trophies again,” Maguire said. “That’s the expectation at a club like Manchester United. We’re working hard to achieve that and we’re confident that we can do it.”

The competition for places in the team: “There’s a lot of competition for places in the team at the moment,” Maguire said. “That’s a good thing because it keeps everyone on their toes. We’ve got a very talented squad and I think we can achieve great things this season.”

The support of the fans: “The fans have been brilliant this season,” Maguire said. “They’ve been right behind us and they’ve given us great support. We want to repay them by winning trophies and playing attractive football.”

What’s next for Manchester United?

Manchester United will be hoping to continue their good form when they take on Newcastle United in their next Premier League match.

Amorim’s side then face a tough trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool.

Conclusion

It is clear that Manchester United are in a period of transition under Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese manager has a very different style to his predecessor, Erik ten Hag, and it is taking time for the players to adapt.   

However, Harry Maguire is confident that Amorim is the right man for the job and that United will start to see the benefits of his methods in the near future.