Ruben Amorim will start work as Manchester United head coach on Monday, November 11, and won’t have much time to settle in before the ever-present demand for results intensifies. After November’s international break, his first two weeks in the job, there won’t be another for four months.
Amorim will be thrown into a hectic festive fixture schedule full of outings in the Premier League, Europa League and Carabao Cup.
With United 13th in the Premier League, 21st in the Europa League and facing a quarter-final trip to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup, he needs to make a quick impact.
The 39-year-old’s full focus is bound to be on his final week as Sporting boss, featuring box office clashes against Manchester City and Braga.
But the task to overturn a dismal start to the season under Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford is looming larger by the day.
Former United defender Wes Brown believes a first-season trophy, like his predecessor, would undoubtedly mark a successful start to Amorim’s tenure.
However, in the short term, he believes the Portuguese tactician must oversee a run of positive results to steer United back in the direction of European qualification.
“Another trophy would definitely be a success,” Brown told Express Sport on behalf of Instant Casino.
“And I think the main goal is to get back into the Champions League. We’ve obviously not been there [consistently] for a couple of seasons.
“Going into the Europa League is still good, but we have to get a good run of games going now where we’re picking up points to start challenging and getting us back into the European places.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy will be responsible for guiding United to their first win in Europe this season when Greek champions PAOK visit Old Trafford on Thursday.
Ten Hag oversaw three draws at the start of the Europa League campaign, surrendering leads in all three games against FC Twente, FC Porto and Fenerbahce.
Van Nistelrooy’s final match as interim manager will see Leicester City return to Old Trafford after tasting a 5-2 defeat in the Dutchman’s first outing.
United must stop the rot in the Premier League, having won just one of their last six such matches and three in 10 all season.
The Red Devils are already six points adrift from the European places, with Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City on the agenda in the early stages of Amorim’s reign.
