Amorim and the suffocating pressure at Old Trafford
Ruben Amorim entered the match against Chelsea in the context of the hot seat at M.U shaking fiercely. Up to round 5 of the Premier League, the "Red Devils" have won only 1 of their opening 4 matches, standing as high as 14th in the rankings. Disappointment piled up after the 0-3 defeat to Manchester City, along with the shock of being eliminated from the League Cup.
Last week, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is directly in charge of football operations at Old Trafford, was present at Carrington to meet Amorim and the team's board.
Amorim described: Its just the norm. He came to show his support, explaining that this is a long-term project. Sir Jim has repeatedly mentioned this as his third season but not for me. We only exchanged data about the team, along with CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox. A meeting like many other times, it is just that at this time people pay more attention".
Although he affirmed that this was just a "normal" working session, the Portuguese coach himself admitted that the pressure was surrounding.
Chelsea and their class-breaking ambitions at Old Trafford
Meanwhile, Enzo Maresca just had a press conference before the match, showing confidence but also reservations. Chelsea have not won at Old Trafford since May 2013. The Italian strategist admitted: "There is no easy time when visiting Old Trafford. Man United are always dangerous, especially when they are hungry for victory.
Maresca also updated the squad when Cole Palmer recovered in time, Estevao Willian was ready to play, while Marc Guiu was likely given a chance. However, Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi continue to be left out of the plan, in the context of Chelsea's internal controversy over how to deal with these two stars.
Notably, Maresca highly appreciated Ruben Amorim, calling him "a great coach, who was successful at Sporting". However, that respect does not overshadow the Blues' ambitions as they need to take advantage of their better form and the opponent's crisis to regain the winning feeling after two unsatisfactory recent matches against Brentford and Bayern.
The battle of wits on the coaching bench
Amorim and Maresca are both young strategists, pursuing a modern attack philosophy. Amorim prefers a three-man central defender formation and drastic pressing, while Maresca has a "lesson of Pep Guardiola" style with a short ball playing style, controlling and exploiting space with wingers.
In the context of uncertainty at Man United and Chelsea's lack of consistency since the FIFA Days, this match became a real test for both of their coaching prowess. Amorim needs to prove that he is steadfast and flexible enough to save the situation, while Maresca must show that he can help Chelsea overcome the psychological barrier when traveling to Old Trafford.
Both coaches have stressed the importance of a cold in the box. Therefore, the match is likely to be decided by individual brilliance moments such as a long-range shot, a set piece or a defensive mistake.
Not having to play in midweek gives Man United a valuable opportunity to prepare for the match against Chelsea at Old Trafford. Amorim said the coaching staff have spent time analyzing both the defeat against Man City and the upcoming counter-attacking plan.
Regarding personnel, Amorim confirmed that he will have the services of Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount against Chelsea. However, two defensive pillars, Lisandro Martinez and Diogo Dalot, will be absent.
On the opposite side, Chelsea have high expectations for the Palmer - Estevao duo, who can make a difference in the moment. Statistics show that The Blues have a creative attack, but lack consistency in finishing. This is also a common weakness of both teams when creating many opportunities but taking advantage of them poorly.
The match was a turning point
All eyes will be on Old Trafford this Saturday. On one side, Amorim struggled under pressure, on the other side, Maresca had a dream of breaking the curse. This is a battle of courage, philosophy and faith. The result of the match will not only affect the Premier League situation, it will also shape the near future of two ambitious football projects in Manchester and London.
Especially for Ruben Amorim, he is supported by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and called for patience. However, the Man United captain understands that all confidence has limits. If Man United continue to get muddy, the story of "normal team" with Sir Jim Ratcliffe will not be as simple as Amorim said.
