Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has set up a six-man leadership group in his squad, with some surprise names and notable exceptions.
After one of the most disappointing seasons in the club’s history, Amorim is attempting to rebuild team cohesion, discipline and morale, with performances so far in pre-season suggesting that his changes are beginning to take effect.
One of the reasons for this, he says, is the appointment of six members of his squad into a “leadership group”, responsible for ensuring the team is running smoothly.
The Lieutenants
“We have a leadership group now,” Amorim told the press in an extended Q&A session (via The Telegraph).
“It’s not just Bruno [Fernandes]. It’s not just Harry [Maguire]. It’s six guys. They are responsible for the group.
“There are some things that in the last year I had to deal with and I said to them this season: ‘You deal with that. Small issues are with you guys. You’re responsible.’
“Small changes but I think it’s helping the group.”
“We have Bruno, we have Harry, Licha [Martínez], Diogo [Dalot], Tom [Heaton] and Nous [Mazraoui].
“So it’s not just the oldest ones. Nous is in the group because he’s a character that I like and I try to understand the dynamic of the group. I try to reach every space. They are the guys responsible for keeping everyone in line.”
A new strategy for ensuring players do not slack
The boss acknowledged that he has changed the dictatorial dynamic that was brought in by the previous manager, Erik ten Hag. But that does not mean there is a lack of discipline nor any relaxing of expectations.
“We have rules, and the rules are not to treat the players as babies,” Amorim explained.
“They have sons. I treat them as a man but they have rules now. And that can change the way you train.”
“If you don’t train in the right way, I have footage to show you, and I show you in front of everybody, so I’m always on top.
“If you train bad one time, I will show you the image. I will not speak with you, [I will] just speak. I will show everything. So that really requires a lot of energy. But what I feel in this year is that I have more people [the leadership group] to do that.”
“I cannot do everything by myself,” he added. “They are the guys that are responsible to keep everyone in line.”
How many of the group will be on the pitch?
One thing that is interesting in regard to the names of the leadership group is that many of them may not be regular first team starters. Tom Heaton, for example, is unlikely to play many, if any, games this season. Given the form of Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt, the development oif Ayden Heaven and the renaissance of Luke Shaw, it is possible that Martinez, Mazraoui and Maguire – the three M’s – will not all be permanent fixtures in the starting XI.
Amorim is also expected to play Amad at right wing back this term, which could also mean Dalot will find himself on the bench more often than not.
Conspicuous by his absence from the list is Casemiro, who has been vice captain previously and would have been widely expected to be part of the group due to his vast experience.
Featured image Gareth Copley via Getty Images
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Red Billy
Red Billy is the managing editor of The Peoples Person, author of three books and totally obsessed with football’s transfer market. Billy still insists Matteo Darmian and Alex Telles could have made it at United given half a chance.
