Ruben Amorim has followed in Mikel Arteta’s footsteps with his big calls since taking charge of Manchester United.
That is the view of former Red Devils captain Steve Bruce as the Portuguese approaches a year at the helm.
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Amorim’s ‘big calls’ have impressed Bruce, who has compared the United boss to ArtetaSteve Bruce COMPARES Ruben Amorim to Mikel Arteta after Manchester United’s turn in form
United’s trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday will mark 12 months since Amorim was announced as their new manager.
Although he was unable to avoid the club’s lowest-ever Premier League finish last term, he has maintained the backing of the board.
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe even claimed in a recent interview that he would give Amorim up to three years to mould his United squad.
Despite missing out on European football and losing to League Two Grimsby in the Carabao Cup in August, the Red Devils now appear to be on an upward trajectory.
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Amorim has overseen a run of five wins in their last seven matches, including three successive victories.
The results have lifted United up to sixth in the table, level on points with Manchester City and ahead of champions Liverpool.
Bruce praises Amorim’s ‘big calls’
Their recent displays have impressed Bruce along with Amorim’s decision to offload several high-profile players in recent months.
Since his arrival, Marcus Rashford, Andre Onana, Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund and Antony have all been made surplus to requirements.
Asked if Amorim is about to prove people wrong following previous calls for him to be replaced, Bruce told talkSPORT: “He’s had a great few weeks, they’ve won five out of the last seven. So there’s certainly been an upturn in their performances.
“I do believe the two players in particular who they’ve bought, (Bryan) Mbeumo and (Matheus) Cunha, they’ve absolutely hit the ground running.
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Bruce is hopeful Amorim can find success at Old Trafford after United’s upturn in formCredit: talkSPORT
“They’ve shown what they’re all about and they’ve given that real cutting edge at the top end of the pitch, which maybe for a while wasn’t there.
“I have to say, he’s made a big call in the dressing room to get rid of big players, with big reputations.
“It reminds me a little bit of Arsenal, what Arteta did a few years ago where he cleared out the dressing room where people are looking from afar thinking ‘wow, that’s a big call’. So he’s made some big managerial calls.”
Similarly to Amorim, Arteta axed the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Matteo Guendouzi during his first three years at Arsenal.
The Spaniard was also afforded patience by the club after replacing Unai Emery in December 2019.
Although he won the FA Cup later that season, Arteta could only achieve back-to-back eighth place finishes before guiding the Gunners to fifth in his second full campaign as manager.
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Arteta was afforded patience by Arsenal as he overhauled his squad to turn them into title challengersCredit: AFP
Arsenal have since finished as Premier League runners-up in each of the last three seasons, though, as well as reaching the Champions League semi-finals last term.
Bruce hopes that Amorim can also find long-term success at Old Trafford.
He continued: “I think all of us (United fans) like him. We all want him to do well because underneath it all is a decent man, who’s a very, very good coach.
“And all of this ‘is he going to change his tactics and is he going to do this and is he going to do that?’ Obviously not and he stuck by him.
“Then of course, I think the big thing was Sir Jim Ratcliffe coming out last week, all of a sudden saying if the guy needs time, whatever it takes, three years.”
What did Sir Jim Ratcliffe say?
Ratcliffe revealed during the international break earlier this month that he wants to give Amorim three years to prove himself as United boss.
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Ratcliffe has claimed he wants to give Amorim three years to prove himself at UnitedCredit: Getty
His comments came days after a 2-0 victory at home to Sunderland which saw the Red Devils climb into the top half of the table.
The British billionaire told The Times’ new business podcast: “He has not had the best of seasons. Ruben needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years. That’s where I would be.
“The press, sometimes I don’t understand. They want overnight success. They think it’s a light switch. You know, you flick a switch and it’s all going to be roses tomorrow.
“You can’t run a club like United on knee-jerk reactions to the press who goes off/on one every week.”
Asked if he was surprised by Ratcliffe’s endorsement of Amorim, Bruce admitted: “Of course in management because sometimes you don’t get three weeks, nevermind three years. So it was quite refreshing for him to hear.
“They’ve obviously backed him with what he wants to do because, as I said, he’s made some big calls and it looks, at the moment anyway, that things are on track a little bit.
“Which is great to see because we all want to see Man United firing again.”