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RUBEN AMORIM has matched records established by Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Matt Busby.
The Portuguese manager has secured three wins in his first five games after taking over from Erik ten Hag.
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Amorim, who is 39 years old, has not yet turned things around for his Red Devils in the Premier League, with only one win in four attempts.
However, he has steered the team to two victories in European matches.
Manchester United triumphed over Bodo/Glimt in their first Europa League encounter under Amorim’s guidance.
The ex-Sporting Lisbon coach also led the team to a comeback win against Viktoria Plzen on Thursday.
These two successes see Amorim share a record with the legendary Ferguson and Busby.
He has followed their example by clinching victories in his initial two matches in a major European competition as the manager of Manchester United.
Ferguson, now aged 82, celebrated victories in his first four games in the Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup back in 1990.
His team triumphed over Pecsi MFC and Wrexham in two-legged encounters before settling for a 1-1 draw against Montpellier.
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Amorim is determined to extend his winning streak and match Ferguson’s record.
His next challenges will be against the Rangers and the Romanian club FCSB before the conclusion of the Europa League group stage.
Man Utd team-mates engage in a heated on-pitch dispute at the final whistle after barely managing to beat Viktoria Plzen
Man Utd player ratings vs Plzen as Hojlund and Amad rescue Onana from a poor performance
ANDRE ONANA was spared from embarrassment by Rasmus Hojlund as Manchester United fought back to defeat Viktoria Plzen.
Here’s how SunSport’s Henry Tomlinson assessed the performances of the Red Devils players…
Andre Onana – 4
Onana had a shaky start, causing an injury to Casemiro and struggled with the opponent’s crosses.
A critical mistake allowed Plzen to take the lead with a bad pass that left his defense exposed.
Diogo Dalot – 6
Dalot supported the attacks well with good forward runs.
Defensively, he was reliable and rarely caught out of position.
Noussair Mazraoui – 6
In a central role, Mazraoui used his pace effectively to assist in defense.
Matthijs de Ligt – 6
Though let down by Onana’s pass that led to the opener, he had a solid performance overall.
Lisandro Martinez – 6
Supported the attack when necessary but struggled with the physical presence of Plzen’s forwards.
Tyrell Malacia – 6
Made minimal impact in his wing-back role, finding it hard to connect with Marcus Rashford.
Casemiro – 6
Progressed the ball effectively when possible, recovering well from an early challenge by Onana.
Bruno Fernandes – 7
Fortunate to avoid an early yellow card. His shot in the first half forced the goalkeeper to make a good save.
His quick thinking assisted Rasmus Hojlund, leading to a crucial late goal.
Amad Diallo – 8
Diallo was a standout performer for Manchester United against Plzen.
His run contributed to the equalizer, showcasing his skill and speed to beat a defender.
Marcus Rashford – 4
Rashford frequently squandered possession, losing the ball in attacking scenarios.
He received the first yellow card of the match for an unnecessary foul and was lucky not to be sent off in the second half before being substituted by Ruben Amorim.
Joshua Zirkzee – 6
Performed adequately as a center-forward, holding up play and assisting the team.
Subs
Rasmus Hojlund 55′ – 8
Hojlund displayed excellent instincts, positioning himself perfectly to score the equalizer.
He later capitalized on Fernandes’ clever assist to net the winner.
Antony 60′ – 6
Contributed to the equalizer by combining effectively with Diallo.
Mason Mount 60′ – 7
Made a positive impact after coming on, unfortunate not to score as he had two attempts saved by the goalkeeper.
Alejandro Garnacho 80′ – N/A
Did not make a significant impact during his short time on the pitch.
Manuel Ugarte 80′ – N/A
Came on to replace Casemiro late in the match.
Meanwhile, Amorim will aim to boost Manchester United’s standing in the Premier League this weekend.
On Sunday, he will experience his first Manchester derby as the leader of the Red Devils.
Manchester City will host Amorim’s side at the Etihad Stadium, where Pep Guardiola will also be looking for a turnaround in form.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager is currently experiencing his toughest spell as City coach.
City has managed only one win in their last ten matches, enduring their latest defeat against Juventus in the Champions League.
As the derby approaches, Amorim has emphasized that he is focused solely on his team’s objectives.
He remarked: “I don’t consider those matters.
“We will face a strong opponent, and my focus is on our challenges.
“We have many issues here, so I’m concentrating on what we need to achieve on Sunday to ensure victory.
“I am entirely focused on my team.”
Three Sporting stars Amorim could target after taking over at Man Utd
RUBEN AMORIM has dismissed the notion of signing any Sporting Lisbon players during the January transfer window.
Nevertheless, officials from the Portuguese club anticipate that Amorim will pursue new signings in the summer, leveraging his financial resources.
Here are three Sporting stars that Manchester United may look to sign… though not at a bargain:
VIKTOR GYOKERES
Age: 26
Position: Striker
Cost: £84million
The Swedish forward has significantly impacted since joining Sporting last summer from Coventry, garnering interest from top clubs across Europe.
He netted 43 goals in 50 matches last season and already has 18 this term.
GONCALO INACIO
Age: 23
Position: Defender
Cost: £50million
This ball-playing center-back was brought into the first team by Amorim and has become a key player in Sporting’s recent championship wins.
He can also operate as a left-back if needed and has earned 12 caps for the Portuguese national team.
MORTEN HJULMAND
Age: 25
Position: Midfielder
Cost: £40million
The Danish midfielder is recognized as one of the top holding players in Portugal and has been appointed captain by Amorim.
He could serve as a suitable successor to Casemiro.
