There’s an old saying in football, the bigger the club, the heavier the past. For Manchester United, that history has become both a badge of honour and a burden. Every new era begins with hope, every manager arrives with conviction, and every season ends with the same weary question: what’s still going wrong?
When Ruben Amorim took charge last November, he was billed as the moderniser who could finally restore order after years of chaos, young, bold, and confident in his methods. Eleven months later, that conviction has started to look like rigidity.
A 2–0 win over Sunderland before the international break gave fans a glimpse of promise, lifting United to ninth in the table. But even a win could not mask the deeper truth. United remain a team still searching for rhythm, cohesion, and belief, traits that once defined the Ferguson years.
Amorim’s fare as United boss: How far have we come
Ruben Amorim has become the first manager since Sir Alex Ferguson to reach 50 games in charge at Manchester United. Yet he also holds the unwelcome record of having the worst record after 50 matches of any post-Ferguson manager.
- Wins: 20
- Draws: 9
- Losses: 21
- Win Percentage: 40%
- Loss Percentage: 42%
His predecessor Erik ten Hag had won 35 matches at the same stage, almost twice as many. But Ten Hag had the advantage of a full pre-season and was backed by new signings from the start. Amorim, on the other hand, took over mid-season with a squad low on confidence and struggled to get the players functioning in his favoured 3-4-2-1 system.
The Portuguese tactician has since been shown patience and bolstered his squad with around 200 million worth of new signings, despite United failing to qualify for Europe. Media reports suggested his job was at risk if the Red Devils failed to beat newly-promoted Sunderland, but an almost routine 2–0 victory might have bought him a stay of execution. Now, he’ll be hoping to achieve a reverse Ten Hag, with results improving dramatically after a distinctly disappointing first 50 matches.
This is not normal but it is nothing new
For Michael Owen, who told India Today exclusively at the Star Sports Press Room, that the problems at United are bigger than one manager or one season.
“Oh, absolutely, it’s fair to question it,” Owen said. “I grew up watching Manchester United win the league all the time, so I understand people thinking, ‘What’s gone wrong? This isn’t the norm.’ And it isn’t, they should be doing better. But it’s not just about the current manager.”
Owen believes this is part of a cycle United have been stuck in since Ferguson left: new managers, new ideas, big investments, short-lived hope. Amorim inherited a squad full of expensive mistakes, and even with 200 million spent on players like Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, and goalkeeper Lemmens, the chemistry has not clicked.
They have changed everything but the outcome remains
Amorim’s insistence on his 3-4-2-1 formation, a setup he has used in 189 straight league matches since his Sporting days, offers structure but also exposes weaknesses in creativity and balance. United’s inconsistency shows in their draws, losses, and a lack of rhythm, reflecting that success is never just about the manager.
“Since Ferguson left, they’ve changed managers, directors, players, even the medical staff, basically everything,” Owen said. “When that didn’t work, they changed it all again. But results won’t change until the structure above is clear, until everyone, from boardroom to pitch, is pulling in the same direction.”
The irony is that United are not short of potential. Players like Kobbie Mainoo, Amad Diallo, and Benjamin Sesko, all 22 or younger, are brimming with talent and energy.
Sesko is adapting to the Premier League, Diallo is fighting for consistent minutes, and Mainoo remains a tantalising talent. Last year, he was in top form, even scoring against the likes of Manchester City, showcasing his intent and composure.
This season, however, his opportunities have been limited, but fans are eager to see him take centre stage and become the spark United so desperately need.
Patience is part of the process
Owen believes United’s struggles are part of a natural cycle during a tough period.
“When Wenger left Arsenal, they struggled. Liverpool did the same after their golden years. These things go in cycles. You can’t replace a dynasty overnight. Patience is part of the process.”
For all the turbulence, Owen remains optimistic,
“One thing is almost guaranteed, Manchester United will be back. It’s not if, it’s when. Two years, four, six, maybe eight, but it will happen.”
The upcoming trip is to Anfield to face a struggling Liverpool, and that comes as one gigantic window of opportunity for Amorim, a classic credibility test. Another defeat could reopen the wounds of inconsistency, while a result against their arch-rivals, who are already in tough patch, could mark the first step toward healing.
United have the firepower, the individual brilliance, and a manager with a clear idea. What they lack is synchronicity, the ability to make all those moving parts function on the same day. Until that happens, the shadows of the Ferguson years will continue to loom large. The Red Devils have the pieces, they just need to finally make them fit.
