Bruno Fernandes and Dalot are the closest players to Ruben Amorim who reportedly is maintaining a professional distance with his players, MEN Reports. Amorim has been at the club for around three months and has faced a tough battle this season. His side struggles in the League and a couple of off field issues with the likes of Rashford also surfaced during the time. His interaction approach is opposite to Erik ten Hag who enjoyed a strong, personal bond with many players. However, Erik ten Hag had a fair share of his dressing room issues as well with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford.
A senior United player recalled the brief but memorable period when Ruud van Nistelrooy served as caretaker manager, describing his squad management as “excellent.” Casemiro, for instance, appreciated the easy rapport he shared with Van Nistelrooy, particularly their fluent Spanish conversations, a connection that many feel has been missing since Amorim’s arrival.
Amorim’s approach appears to be influenced by the hectic schedule he inherited upon his mid-season appointment. “Sometimes, that detail is really important,” he recently explained, adding, “Pre-season, creating, spending three weeks together, creating something, and then you want to create something new with the players. I want them to know me in a different way, not always preparing the matches with stress. We don’t have the time to do that. I think it’s really important and I think it’s the secret of teams.” His remarks underscore a desire to build deeper relationships, yet he acknowledges that time is a critical factor in making that possible.
It is understandable for Amorim to have this approach, who joined the club mid season and immediately had to deal with a tough battle in rebuilding the club. The recent January window saw a few players leaving on loan including Rashford so Amorim’s distance approach seems viable as a major squad reform is expected in the summer as well. The important question is, Is this professional distance news approach such a big thing or just a different management style that comes with different managers? Surely, each manager has a different management style and pretty sure, Amorim has one. For that matter, no manager will ever throw his players deliberately under the bus. The media hype that surrounds Manchester United has already been voiced earlier by Amorim as stories are connected with Manchester United now and then. This latest professional distance thing may be a gimmick too like many news that surrounds the club.
For now, the focus is on immediate results, with the hope that a more personal connection can be developed once the busy season winds down. As the season progresses, it remains to be seen how Amorim’s professional approach will eventually evolve into a close-knit team spirit.