It’s really hard to watch these last matches.

Last night, specially the first 25min was one of the hardest.

But, we all knew that. 

Right?

No, not all.

As I’m getting more and more involved with the reality of the Club, getting more information on the working standards on the ground, on the fans feelings and comments on social media, checking on pundits opinions, etc…

Virtually all I can get into, to better understand the phenomenon.

I’m surprised by the number of people that is doubting of Ruben’s ability to turn the scenario around.

Or saying things as “Ten Hag was a good Coach, just as Ruben’s is a good Coach, but this will take a lot of time.”
Or even that Ruben “would get immediate results if he would be back to the back 4 formations”(ie. GK+4+4+2 or GK+4+3+3)

This is really something that I cannot understand.

My perspective (assuming to be completely biased by Ruben’s ability and quality as a Coach) is that there’s not a lot of data supporting these kind of arguments.

As a first argument, for those that missed my recents posts on Manchester United reality, over the last 2 years and a half (under Ten Hag), there was a spend of over 660M Euros, and to the exception of the players that came on loan (ie. Amrabat, Reguilón, Weghorst, Dúbravka, Sabitzer, Jack Butland in a total of 14,26M Euros) all the players are currently in the squad.

From this argument, we need to understand my point here: there was a total of 21 new-players signed during this period, 6 of them on loan. 

Meaning 15 are there, the ones chosen from Ten Hag.

To go even further on the quality standards, from those loans:
. Amrabat plays currently for Fenerbahçe (Türkiye);
. Reguilón is now being dismissed from Tottenham, having played 2% of the total amount of minutes this season at Spurs and, last Season, left United to join Brentford (on loan, as well);
. Weghorst plays for Ajax (Netherlands) and has played 49% of total minutes;

. Dúbravka is at Newcastle, but has a staggering 21% of usage time (minutes played this Season);

. Sabitzer is now at Dortmund (Germany), with 65% of total minutes played;
. Jack Butland is now at Rangers (Scotland).

To be clear: the quality standards are low.

In every aspect of the Game, but the physicality levels of almost any team against United are remarkably higher.

And quality, as well.

Pick any team.

So, my first argument is simple: don’t compare Ruben with Ten Hag.

All these mistakes were done under Ten Hag, with his natural approval and the support of the Board (as it should be).

Secondly, continuing on the lack of quality and standards, besides the 15 players left from the Ten Hag Era, we have (as normal and viable options):
. Maguire

. Lindelöf

. Luke Shaw
. Dalot
. Bruno Fernandes
. Mainoo
. Garnacho
. Rashford
. Amad Diallo

Now, from these, who would play for any top team in Europe at the moment?

Easy answer.

Thirdly, to evaluate Ruben, we need to understand what he did before.

Ruben didn’t came from SL Benfica or FC Porto.

And, sorry for the Sporting CP supporters, there’s a massive difference in these teams.

In the last 40 years (since 1984):
. Sporting CP won 4 Portuguese Leagues
. SL Benfica won 12

. FC Porto won 22

It’s massive!

He took 5 years (4 complete Leagues) to be dominant and win as many titles (2) that the Club took more than 30 something years!

And all these while the bigger brothers like SL Benfica was making record-breaking investments in their squad and FC Porto, although going through FIFA Fair Play scrutiny and facing some financial issues was able to have a relative similar investment as Sporting CP did during his tenure in Lisbon, and had a much stronger starting point (they were Champions before Ruben’s 1st League title in Portugal).

So, forgive me if you’re not entirely aware of Portuguese Football landscape, but he didn’t made the same as José Mourinho (FC Porto) or Jorge Jesus (SL Benfica & Sporting CP), or any other for the matter.

I’m not intending to say that he’s better than everyone else.

But, he’s definitely different.

Yes, he’s very stubborn.

Yes, he’s very good (also) on the communication and media management.

But he’s very, very good on the tactical aspect of the Game.

Of course, things can go wrong and don’t work out for many reasons, including him not being adaptable enough to different needs, movements and tactics at the Premier League (this would be my only negative point from the matches so far, where the team was very predictable in their movements, but again… with the current players..).

But my opinion there’s no better Coach at the moment.

For the future, simple as well.

Ruben has to keep going on his path, stubborn as he is.

And the Man United board needs to back him up, as they did, and will do.

And the fans will back him as well.

Because they know Ruben is right and he’ll fight for them.

For January, I’m expecting some difficulties.

The players that will arrive – expecting between 3 to 4 – will be 2nd tier in some top-Clubs probably or potential talents in 2nd tier teams (likes of Athletic Bilbao or Real Sociedad in Spain, some teams in Italy, any team in Portugal, and so on).

But that’s what you need at the moment, to survive through this Season.

I’m expecting some to leave immediately, specially if more signings are possible (which I find hard, honestly).

For the Summer Transfer Market, the Club needs a revolution!
I would say that half of the existent squad can be sold. 

Let’s wait!

Let’s embrace January with hopes.

Happy New Year!