Supercomputer reveals how difficult Ruben Amorim’s first five games are at Man United – and how it compares to their Premier League rivals
A new dawn is on the horizon at Manchester United. After what feels like an eternity, Ruben Amorim steps into the dugout for the first time on Sunday evening as the new Red Devils boss.
The Portuguese coach was confirmed as Erik ten Hag’s successor at Old Trafford in early November, but was unable to start his new job for two weeks because he had a notice period at former club Sporting CP.
The 39-year-old arrives in Manchester with a reputation to uphold. He is widely regarded as one of the best in coaching and earlier this week he finally got to work with United’s stars at Carrington training ground.
Amorim’s much-anticipated first test takes place at Portman Road, where they take on Ipswich Town, who have managed just a single win this campaign – against Tottenham before the international break.
While it may not be a trial by fire for Amorim, he faces a difficult start at United, who currently sit 13th in the Premier League.
United will face three of the top five sides in the top flight in the first five games, led by the Portuguese boss.
Ruven Amorim was confirmed as Erik ten Hag’s successor at Man United on November 1
Amorim’s much-anticipated first test takes place at Portman Road, where they face Ipswich on Sunday
Opta assessed the toughness of United’s first five games under Amorim and made this table
The statistics experts at Opta have done what they do best and have put together a difficulty table, comparing how difficult Amorim’s opening matches are compared to the rest of the division.
After their trip to Suffolk, United’s first game at Old Trafford under new leadership will be against Everton, who they have not lost to at home since 2013 when David Moyes was in charge.
This is when things start to get a bit more demanding. Just three games into his reign, Amorim will take his side to the Emirates to take on Arsenal.
A trip to the Gunners is daunting at the best of times, they have lost just once in their own backyard in the league this calendar year.
Of course, Arsenal aren’t exactly in great form at the moment – they’re winless in their last four games – but they haven’t tasted defeat against United in north London since 2017.
Afterwards, Nottingham Forest come to town. At the time of writing, Nuno Espirito Santo’s team is four points ahead of United and is just outside the top four. Although the match takes place at Old Trafford, things will not be plain sailing for Amorim and his team.
But it seems like a piece of cake compared to who they will face a week later on December 15.
With the Christmas calendar heating up at this time, Amorim takes United across the city to the Etihad for his first Manchester Derby.
Amorim was all smiles in his first training session as he prepared for a baptism of fire in the Premier League
United take on Arsenal at the Emirates, where they lost last season (pictured), in the 39-year-old’s third game in charge
Amorim will lead United to a Manchester Derby for the first time in mid-December
The matches don’t get much harder than that for a Red Devils boss. Ten Hag failed to pick up a point in his two visits to the blue side of Manchester.
And while Amorim’s penultimate match against Sporting was a 4-1 defeat to Pep Guardiola’s champions, derby day is a completely different story.
Overall, Opta has given the Portuguese’s first five matches a difficulty rating of 90.9 out of 100. It is believed that only six teams will play a more difficult series of matches in that period.
United’s rivals City are one of those teams. They have a rating of 91.3 due to meetings with Tottenham and Liverpool at the start of that series.
Division-backed Southampton top the table as they too face Arne Slot’s league leaders. They then play against Brighton, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Spurs. A brutal series of games.
It’s fair to say that Amorim has had a somewhat rocky start at United. However, after his first five games, things don’t get much easier.
With Red Devils fans desperate for the end of 2024 after what they’ve had to endure, they won’t be too happy to see Liverpool looming just a week into the new year.
Amorim’s first taste of Anfield as a coach comes within his first ten games and means he will have met all of last season’s top three away from home in his first two months in charge.