Friday, January 31, 2025

Ruben Amorim has just managed what Manchester United have not done since Ruud van Nistelrooy was in charge

Share

Manchester United scored two impressive goals in the win over FCSB, with Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo doing the honours.

United’s margin of victory should have been higher than 2-0, with Ruben Amorim’s side dominating with 70 per cent possession and 21 shots at goal.

FCSB will feel they should have scored at least once, with a superb long-range effort rattling the United woodwork.

But aside from that, back-up goalkeeper Altay Bayindir had a solid game in goal, demonstrating he can be a reliable stand-in once again.

Manchester United Head Coach Rúben Amorim gives instructions during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD8 match between Fotbal Club FCSB ...
Photo by MB Media/Getty Images

Two clean sheets in a row

Manchester United’s 2-0 win followed a 1-0 win against Fulham, just about managed thanks to an excellent Toby Collyer goal-line clearance.

But clean sheets are rarely easy, as Manchester United’s record under Ruben Amorim attests to.

This is the first time Manchester United have managed back-to-back clean sheets under Amorim, with interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy the last manager to accomplish it.

Van Nistelrooy did so with a 2-0 win vs PAOK and a 3-0 win over Leicester, now his current side. And there is one key difference.

Both of Van Nistelrooy’s games were at Old Trafford, with United’s clean sheet pair under Amorim both being recorded in away games.

The pair of clean sheets is a positive sign, especially with Amorim mixing up his defence, starting Noussair Mazraoui in his back three.

Home test next for Amorim

Ruben Amorim will be looking for his side to record a third clean sheet in a row against Crystal Palace this weekend.

In doing so, he needs to fix United’s poor home performances. He has only overseen one clean sheet at Old Trafford, the 4-0 win vs Everton at the start of December.

United face a tricky Palace side this weekend, who Erik ten Hag’s United drew 0-0 against at Selhurst Park earlier in the season.

Related Topics

Read more

Local News