Ruben Amorim has brought the 'dawn' back to MU

Winning against the underdog Sunderland was still doubtful, beating a declining Liverpool was also questionable, but you can no longer doubt MU after they convincingly defeated Brighton at Old Trafford. The Red Devils clearly demonstrate a strong revival and a significant transformation in every aspect of the club, exactly as Ruben Amorim promised.

For a club that has spent almost the entire year in the lower half Premier League standings, this is a remarkable change. The coveted 4th place, if maintained until the end of the season (or MU finishes higher), will grant them a ticket back to the ambitious Champions League stage and provide the economic boost the management expects. It’s a long-term goal, but we can believe that Bruno Fernandes and his teammates are truly fighting for it, driven by wounded pride and the positive changes Amorim brings.

The convincing 4-2 victory over Brighton marked the first time the Red Devils have won three consecutive Premier League matches in the same season since February 2024. Amorim said he felt more satisfied with this win than the one over Liverpool because it was a more complete performance. For the first time, the Portuguese coach saw two players he recruited both score in a single match (Cunha scored once and Mbeumo netted a brace). Additionally, the third new signing, Benjamin Sesko, provided an assist. Alongside this, we must acknowledge other positive factors that have created a stable, passionate, and ambitious MU — something that seemed like a luxury compared to last season.

Amorim’s tactical imprint

Under Amorim, Manchester United is gradually overcoming issues in their play organization. Although the team didn’t rely rigidly on long passes like in the Liverpool win, they still made adjustments to prevent opponents from predicting their moves. Their play was faster and more direct against a Brighton side known for intense marking, strong pressing, and high fitness. Throughout the 90 minutes, Amorim’s strategy proved correct. This approach offers a shorter and easier route to enter the opponent’s half, reducing pressure on players when building attacks.

Amorim maintained his familiar 3-4-3 formation but made detailed tweaks. Training time is starting to show results. First is the improvement in transition phases. United’s center-backs previously struggled when pushing up to press. However, in this match, Luke Shaw advanced at the right moment to steal the ball from Georginio Rutter, leading to Casemiro’s fortunate goal.

Similarly, Matthijs de Ligt’s risky decision to closely mark Danny Welbeck, pushing him higher up, also paid off. The final play, originating from a center-back’s forward movement, was Heaven’s through ball assisting Mbeumo to seal the 4-2 victory for MU, a clear endorsement of Amorim’s vision. Furthermore, the attacking stars showed good chemistry. Benjamin Sesko contributed to Cunha’s first goal and assisted Mbeumo’s 61st-minute goal. He holds up play well, competes fiercely, is strong, resilient, and clever... These small but growing improvements are yielding significant results.

Cunha and Casemiro are crucial for MU

The match featured a key moment for Matheus Cunha. His first goal for the club, after eight matches of waiting, finally arrived in true Cunha style. It was a delicate and skillful shot from outside the box that left Brighton’s goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen with no chance to save. Despite the pressure of a £62 million price tag, Cunha never shies away from responsibility, always ready to demand the ball and take risks. Surely you remember his clever play against two Liverpool players in the previous match. Even when off-balance, Cunha could still pass back effectively. Clearly, this is what Amorim expects from every MU player, especially in the attacking area that once troubled him greatly.

Casemiro’s influence was reaffirmed once again. The 33-year-old midfielder delivered an excellent performance by assisting Cunha’s goal and scoring himself. However, MU’s vulnerability was immediately exposed after Casemiro was substituted off at the 70th minute for tactical reasons. Replacing him with Kobbie Mainoo made the midfield more susceptible, especially against breakthroughs like Yankuba Minteh’s. Amorim will likely seriously consider bringing in another quality midfielder during the January transfer window.

Happy but don’t get too carried away

Amorim is very realistic. He allows the players to enjoy themselves and relax but warns them not to lose focus ahead of the upcoming away game against Nottingham Forest next weekend. The Portuguese coach shared: “You can feel the team is different now. We respond better and have confidence to handle any situation. But three weeks ago it was very different, and three weeks from now it will change again. Enjoy the moment, but keep urgency in every training session.”

Looking at the goals MU conceded against Brighton, Amorim’s warning is well justified. Dorgu was very lucky not to be sent off after fouling Minteh, which led to Welbeck scoring from a free kick for Brighton. If MU players had handled the situation better earlier, forcing Dorgu to chase the ball might have been avoided, and Brighton might not have scored.

Secondly, Amorim might consider giving more playing time to substitutes so they can maintain match rhythm. Of course, this partly depends on the players’ concentration. We are referring to the second conceded goal. From the opponent’s corner, Zirkzee should have closely marked Brighton’s player but shamefully lost him, leaving Lammens no option but to score.

The victory over Brighton helps Manchester United consolidate their position among the leaders and rekindle hopes of competing for the title this season. However, Ruben Amorim’s message shows that nothing is decided yet and nothing can be taken for granted. MU can still improve, perform better, and finish higher. Now, MU will aim for a fourth consecutive win against Nottingham, a team with a very traditional English style currently in crisis.

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