Before diving into yesterday’s poor match, I think it’s important to start in a different way.

How is Ruben changing United from the back?

Let me get clearer for you.

For some of my readers, this may be something new, because the most reputable and recognized Sporting CP team under Ruben Amorim was the most recent example.

This team (last Season and the beginning of the current one) was a “Total Football” team – strong in all aspects of the Game, compact defensively, with an amazing reaction when they lost the ball and choking the opponent with so many offensive options, playing directly, between the defensive lines with short combinations, from the wide, centre, etc.

It was all there!

However, Ruben’s first year and a half (the one that culminated with his 1st Champion Title) as Head Coach of Sporting CP presented a completely different scenario.

And even Game style, or approach.

Yes, Sporting CP had a few quality players, the possession was normally higher than the opponents, but let’s be honest, it’s Sporting CP. 

You don’t expect a lot of teams in Portugal to be dominant against Sporting CP, SL Benfica or FC Porto. 

It’s normal, happens everywhere.

But even when that was a reality, it was very comfortable for Sporting CP.

They were very, very compact defensively, conceding small amounts of goals, strong on the counter attack and on set pieces (with Coates as a main reference).

This Man United process is remembering me a lot those times.

The first half Season, Ruben had a tremendous confusion on the back 3 CB’s with Illori, Neto, Coates (ex-Southampton), Mathieu (ex-FC Barcelona), Acuña, Borja, Eduardo Quaresma and a few more navigating those positions. 

Just as we seen now in the first month or so in England.

Then, for the Season 2020/2021 he got the signs he needed, with the Goalkeeper Ádan, Feddal (ex-Betis Sevilla) and Pedro Porro (now at Tottenham Spurs) and promoting 2 talents from the Youth with Gonçalo Inácio and Nuno Mendes (now at PSG) finishing the defensive line of 5 that he needed for the defensive stability he was looking for.

Most importantly, from all those players that were at the team from previous Season, he remained with only 5 out 13 defenders – Luís Neto, Sebastian Coates, Eduardo Quaresma, Gonçalo Inácio and Nuno Mendes (these last 3 played a few matches by the end of the Season already under Ruben, coming from the Youth).

In total, from the squad, maybe only 10 players, or less, made the transition from one Season to the next, when they became Champions (after 20 years).

Reminding you anything?

However, I must say, the process is similar, but the changes I believe will be different in terms of signings.

At Manchester United, Ruben seems to have found a stable back 3 and Yoro is surely a player for the future. 

Therefore, it’s safe to say that there are 4 players for 3 positions, which is a good scenario.

I think that with 1 quality signing, that area should be covered.

The main problem today is with the attacking line, from the sides (right-back and left-back) to the 3 attacking positions.

We’ve discussed this a lot here, and yesterday my predictions about Amad Diallo’s recent performances resulted in being at the bench, replaced by Garnacho.

The problem, to my point, is that what Garnacho gives to the Game is not enough.

As I said before, Garnacho is someone that fights and tries really hard.

But somehow he was positioned in a pedestal that perhaps is too high for his current contribution to the Game.

Maybe that’s why he was punished recently, because he believes he should be on that pedestal.

Coming back to the starting point, and to why I think is important to present you this information is because Ruben is following the same process as before.

In a faster pace, surely.

He’s been there, he has the experience.

He knows what he needs to rebuild.

Experiences are over, he knows exactly who within the squad he needs to perform.

Existent players are improving, system is becoming clearer  to all and eventually there will be more variations, but there’s way more to achieve.

Just, maybe, with a different setup of players.

As the pace is now moving much faster than when he was at Sporting CP, and he’s able to adapt much faster, the truth is that the starting point (meaning, the individual quality of the players) is also better at United than he had in Portugal.

So, probably, with the right fit of 5 to 6 players, this team will change dramatically.

Starting by 3 or 4 now in January would be great!

About yesterday’s match, I already shared that I think it was a poor match.

From both sides.

Arsenal FC doesn’t seem to be coached by a Spanish Coach and Ruben is going through this phase of setting up the team from the back, promoting defensive compactness over offensive play.

It’s fair, I understand, it’s a process but it’s just a Game that is less exciting to watch.

If I was the Coach would probably do the same as he did against Liverpool FC (ie. the now very famous long-balls) and yesterday, at Emirates Stadium.

Yes, I won my bet of Ruben beating Arteta (for now) but I wanted it to be in different terms.

The time will come, surely.

How long will take before the first move? 

And will there be a second?

A third?

January will be over fast, someone needs to run!

Ahh, this is something Ruben is also very different – he’s very stubborn, specially about tactics and signings.

If he decided that he wants player X, he will prefer to wait than signing the closest profile to the one he really wanted.

So, I’m guessing we will need to wait…