Manchester United have identified their “top choice” to replace Ruben Amorim, despite the club continuing to insist the Portuguese coach’s position at Old Trafford is secure, according to an explosive report.
“An elite coach”
A number of managers have been linked with the Red Devils in recent weeks as the pressure on Amorim has ramped up after United’s disappointing start to the season.
Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace) and Marco Silva (Fulham) are two names to be throw into the ring, while long-term targets at the Theatre of Dreams, Gareth Southgate and Mauricio Pochettino, are also tipped for the job.
Glasner was the only name that made sense from this list, however, with the Austrian coach having worked a miracle at Selhurst Park using the exact same system Amorim – a 3-4-2-1 formation – has sought to implement at Old Trafford.
But it’s AFC Bournemouth manager, Andoni Iraola, who has emerged as the leading candidate in United’s hierarchy eyes, according to TEAMtalk.
“TEAMtalk can reveal that Man Utd have identified Iraola as their TOP choice to replace Ruben Amorim should the Portuguese manager’s project at Old Trafford falter.
“United’s hierarchy view Iraola as an elite coach capable of navigating the intense pressure of managing a global giant. His ability to implement a cohesive system at Bournemouth, coupled with his success in developing young talents, has convinced United bosses of his readiness for a step up.”
Iraola’s philosophy is based on aggressive, proactive football with a high press which looks to suffocate the opposition and force mistakes up the pitch. He has been unbelievably effective over the past two seasons in executing this with the Cherries, despite the club losing some of their best players across this period.
In many ways, this mirrors the approach Amorim has developed with United to a much greater success this season.
And it’s this overlap which is likely driving INEOS’ admiration of the Spanish coach on the south coast, rather than simply picking the option whose system most closely resembles Amorim’s in Glasner.
Amorim continues to be backed
It’s important to note that Amorim retains the full support of the Old Trafford hierarchy, both publicly and in private.
There is zero desire to make a change in the dug out, despite the team being stranded in 11th in the the table and already out of the Carabao Cup at the hands of League Two Grimsby Town in humiliating fashion.
INEOS have invested a huge amount in Amorim, both on and off the pitch. He is their man, in a way Erik ten Hag never was – and so the threshold by which they judge the former Sporting manager is far more tolerable than for his predecessor.
As a result, Amorim will receive more time at the helm at United to get things right, even if results continue to fall below the standard, as INEOS are firm in their belief that performances have improved from last season.
Key underlying metrics support this case, suggesting Amorim’s side should be far higher up the table if his players would convert the plethora of chances they are creating for themselves.
But, interestingly, there is one coach whose team surpass United when it comes to these performance indicators – Iraola’s high-flying Bournemouth side, constructed at a percentage of the price of the Red Devils squad. It’s clear to see why INEOS consider the Spaniard such an “elite coach”.
Featured image Marc Atkins via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
