The three-game winning streak is no more for Manchester United, but the four-game unbeaten streak remains alive for Ruben Amorim.
The 2-2 draw for Man Utd vs Nottingham Forest was a fair reflection of a scrappy game where clear-cut chances were few and far between.
Amad and Casemiro scored for United, while a nightmare two-minute spell condemned Ruben Amorim to a deficit out of nowhere.
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Amidst all the madness, however, a single moment summed up how Amorim has grown as the Man Utd manager, and why it’s a good omen for the future.
Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty ImagesRuben Amorim’s growth in clear display vs Forest
Amorim has now completed a full year at Old Trafford, a time he has described as a “journey” that was full of doubts, but a case of winning over them.
As recently as four weeks ago, there were doubts whether he would even live through the international break, so crucial was that 2-0 win against Sunderland.
Something clicked in that game, and it carried over to Liverpool and Brighton, with United good value for a point against Forest as well.
Perhaps the thing that stood out the most was what happened in the 33rd minute against Forest, when Amorim’s growth at United was on clear display.
United won a corner, contentious from Forest’s perspective, but what happened after is becoming an increasingly common occurrence.
United players made a nuisance of themselves on the corner, and Casemiro headed home to give United the lead in a scrappy game.
With that, Amorim hammered home the point he made before the game, on how he wanted to show more of the “English game”.
He meant that he was finally starting to come around on the “non-negotiables” of the Premier League, which is winning the duels, dominating set-pieces, playing direct when needed, and jumping on second balls.
United’s set-piece dominance continued through the game, and Amorim will have been extremely delighted to see his growth reflected in the team’s performance.
Man Utd will need to diversify their attack
Amorim’s transformation into this duel-winning, athletic monster-loving, quintessential Premier League coach has turned United’s fortunes around.
However, against Forest, the limitations of that approach were also visible, as Forest were happy to sit in a low block and close the space between the lines.
You can’t beat a low-block by playing direct and jumping on second balls, and United’s threat from open play was minimal.
The next step for this team is to start dominating with the ball, because as teams start to realise United can’t be sucker-punched anymore, they will start retreating into their shell.
Then comes the challenge of breaking them down while staying secure on transition, the final step before a team can be considered elite.
If Amorim manages that leap of growth, United will be serious contenders again.