Premier League favourite Louis Saha has backed Ruben Amorim to keep his long-term project going at Manchester United with or without Champions League football in an exclusive interview with BOYLE Sports .
Saha has defended Bruno Fernandes arguing that criticism of the Portugal International "amazed him" offers his perspective into the legacy he will leave at the club and compares him to a former Manchester United icon.
The former France international has also called on his former club to grant Kobbie Mainoo the chance to show what he can do while other players are away at the African Cup of Nations in December and January.
Ruben Amorim
United’s Fragile Identity Under Amorim
You can see that the team has definitely improved. They create more chances and give more of an impression that the team has found ways to score goals. Yes, there are still things in football where you have to defend, stay compact, and really understand the specific moments in the game to keep control, confidence, or pressure on the opponent. But it was very entertaining.
Everybody can see that we can come back into the games. You can create some special moments like back in the day. Whatever the manager is asking for, different types of formations, the players still have to understand their positioning and all that brings more confidence when coming into a game.
The more the players understand the manager and his flexibility, the clearer it will become for everybody to see. So, I am not worried. I think the manager, in his capacity to remain very calm in the way that he wants to play, wants to educate his players, and wants to get the foundation right, has taken time. But I think everybody can see it now. While he maintained this approach for a long time, we can now see that United has an identity. It's still fragile, but it's coming.
Has Ruben Amorim Turned A Corner?
Precarious
Manchester United in the top five? It's still early on. Football moves very quickly. One moment, Bournemouth were very high on the table, and now they're sitting very close to the relegation battle. Things change very quickly.
You have two or three bad games, and you can end up in a messy situation. So it's still early on. There are good signs that we can all, I think, use to lift up the confidence because those players, that's what they need, and I think they can sense it.
Some players need to approach the games with better strength. I think that when we have all those players in top form, it will be good.
Amorim Must Get Champions League
Ruben Amorim can keep his job without Champions League football; this is a long-term project. This club requires building a foundation, not only on the field. It seems like we all can see that in terms of recruitment, they have it right. Now, the infrastructure is coming as well as the mentality, building confidence.
Yes, you can win the FA Cup, you can win a spot in the Champions League and all that, but at the end, it's all about our identity and seeing that consistently.
Having that will be a victory because it has been really hard to see anything in recent years. It's still fragile. It's still early on. I would love to speak the same way in March and say now it's on. We have a foundation. It's been very consistent. We have all our players back now. Let's prove that we can reach those top five easily.
Bruno Fernandes
Criticism of Bruno Fernandes Amazes Me
There are a lot of comments around Bruno Fernandes. Sometimes it's about his leadership, sometimes it's about not creating enough chances, even if he's scoring and giving assists, people still claim he's a disruptor because he's not playing in the right position. There are a lot of elements. People comment, people always have a say. Football is extremely difficult. And Bruno, in all the years he's been there, has always given his best.
I think it's not just about saying how important he has been over the years; it's about consistency. This guy is the most reliable player. While some parts of his game still need to improve, it's more about the players around him gelling and providing a bit more solid 90 minutes throughout the games.
Bruno Fernandes is always showing the tempo, showing the commitment, and showing class on a regular basis. The kind of criticism this guy has been under just amazes me. It's a very cheap way to comment on football sometimes, just by claiming people should do this or do that. It comes from pundits like me. Sometimes we forget we played in a different era, sometimes with different teams, different teammates, different responsibilities then, and different pressure. All that has been a combination for Bruno Fernandes, and for me, he has coped really well.
Comparing Fernandes vs Keane
Comparisons between Bruno Fernandes and Roy Keane are understandable because he is the focal point of this team. We also saw that with Cristiano Ronaldo. They get criticism because of it; it’s the lazy way to just comment on the focal point. Now we can see that the structure is better, and he is thriving.
The signings we have made have brought some very stable players, some players who are even sitting on the bench now and haven't complained. They try to fight, and this is what we want to see.
That's why I think when you look at Bruno's contribution, it's just enormous, and it's not just about the numbers. It's his running, his intensity, and his capacity to sometimes show rage in his own way.
Bruno’s Legacy
Bruno Fernandes could be the best Man Utd player to never win the title. It's frustrating because I'm sure that when he came, he wanted to help rebuild United's squad into title winners.
He could have maybe gone to other teams, but he really loved Manchester United. He chose Manchester United, and for that, we should protect him. We should really enjoy the quality of the player and obviously wish that before he decides to go, they can lift a massive trophy.
But the Premier League is not easy to grab at this moment in time, so it's not going to be a surprise if he doesn't get it. It's just frustration. It's a target, and I think he would be more than happy to have contributed the way he has.
Has Bruno Fernandes Reached Icon Status?
Kobbie Mainoo
Mainoo Can’t Waste His Opportunity
With a few players heading to AFCON, it's an opportunity for Kobbie Mainoo. He has to show that he has worked during his time, not playing. He has to show character, and who knows, he could win his place. This is football, this is a career in football. Sometimes you have moments where challenges are in front of you, and you really have to take your chances.
One element of his game that needs to improve is going into the penalty area. I think this is extremely important when you have his kind of technical ability. In midfield, it's extremely demanding. This is where I think it is a huge opportunity for Kobbie, and I really hope that he's going to show his talent because the guy has talent.
His talent is not there to be wasted. He will play. We know that it will take time, and maybe he will change clubs or whatever, but he will be a big talent. Sometimes a career asks you to have different kinds of reactions, and I think he has proved that he is intelligent. We will see, these moments will be a huge opportunity for him.
"Free Mainoo" Controversy
It's a family member, and what we know, everybody is using social media. They use all those platforms now. It's bigger than ever. Sometimes it's not helpful. Some agents are doing everything to create a move, and that's it. But in the same way, you can see that's genuine, he wants his brother to play because he's talented, he knows he can do better and help the team. That's fair.
We just live in a different kind of era, and the people surrounding players sometimes have a kind of a power, and they use it. For Ruben Amorim to ignore it would be my advice. You should not overreact; it's like journalists asking you difficult questions. You answer them, and you move on. You have to focus on your team, and this is basically the same.
There are so many comments out there, so many people with different opinions, you have to cope with it and just move on, and that's it. You have to work as hard as possible to build a team and be consistent, and that's the main goal. And whether the players are not happy sometimes, it's part of the journey.
Will Mainoo Be At Manchester United In 12 Months?
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