Comparing Ruben Amorim to Mikel Arteta amid this Man Utd nightmare is just ridiculous
On the one hand, you have to admire Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s loyalty. On the other, you have to question his blind faith for giving Ruben Amorim three years to turn things around at Manchester United. But, honestly, what was far more baffling was the comparison about how long it took Sir Alex Ferguson and, even more so, Mikel Arteta to turn things around. Fergie arguably took five years to get things right at Old Trafford and turn the club into the best in England and one of the most successful in world football. But, come on, that was the 1980s into the 1990s. Trying to compare those times with now, is ridiculous. We live in a very different era. Long before being “the most profitable club in the world” was a discussion point. Then, within his interview with The Times, he admitted that he was also comparing Amorim’s time at United with the start of Arteta’s reign at the Emirates. He said: “You look at Arteta at Arsenal - He had a miserable time for the first couple of years.” What the overlooks is that Arteta took over in December 2019, he won the FA Cup in 2020 and to win a trophy in his first season was a game-changer. Well, Amorim blew that chance in the Europa League final last May and so how on earth can you compare the two? Answer: you can’t. On many levels. And the reality is that even the FA Cup might not have saved Arteta the following season. But the Covid era probably did. Arsenal, like the rest of football, were playing in front of nearly empty stadiums through the pandemic and that might have saved Arteta when they lost 1-0 at home to Burnley. Their home form was atrocious. They were in a mess. The results were so bad that they were flirting with a relegation scrap. Arsenal’s then director of football Edu even gave Arteta the dreaded vote of confidence. The following year was not much better. But it was better. And yet they still blew up and missed out on the Champions League places. But Arteta still had the FA Cup. He dined out on that until the 2022-23 season when they became unlikely title challengers, backed by a very supportive board and a lot of money spent in the transfer window. Now Arsenal fans are still a little divided on him. In the eyes of some fans, he has to deliver a big trophy this season. The club back him 100 per cent. But the point is that Arteta comparison just does not really add up. United fans have been so supportive on Amorim. They chant his name and are being patient. It has been tested lately. Ratcliffe and United have also splashed the cash and backed him in the market. They have bought a whole new forward line - Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha - to suit his unbreakable system. That’s some show of faith. I really admire it. But you cannot compare like for like. It does not always add up. As one United fan said to me: “We’re nowhere near where Arsenal or Liverpool were in that first five years.” Amorim, like Arteta, is young, inexperienced but inflexible. He talks well but his players are clearly not buying into or grasping his tactics and vision. United is also a monster of a football club. I’m not sure anyone can stomach three years of this soap opera. I genuinely thought United would make a battle for the top four this season. They spent big, had obvious flaws (midfield for a start) but it’s a decent squad. Yet they are underperforming massively. I am no longer so sure about Amorim. And the idea you can give him three years to get it right… well, I just don’t think anyone will wear that. Apart from, maybe, Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football . We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.