Ruben’s rebuild: Manchester United’s revival balances on a knife edge | OneFootball

This is the season when Rúben Amorim’s Manchester United will be truly judged. No more excuses: he has more of his players, he’s had a pre-season, and the bedding-in period is over.

With 11 Premier League games played, there’s enough evidence to make an early assessment of the 2025/26 campaign — and right now, it’s finely balanced.

Has the season gone to plan?

Asked about United’s ambitions, Amorim and his players consistently talk about European qualification, carefully sidestepping the phrase ‘Champions League’. That sets the goal at a realistic top-seven finish — fair enough for a team that limped to a humiliating 15th place last season.

Currently seventh, United are showing clear signs of progress. The summer’s $262 million attacking trio — Benjamin Šeško, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha — has added firepower and energy. The team is scoring more freely and playing with far greater aggression out of possession.

They’re unbeaten in six league games (four wins, two draws), and the performances have been significantly better than last term.

Manchester United are among the top scorers in the division, but no team in the top ten has conceded more goals. Image: Google

Yet, it could easily have been far worse. United have surrendered leads in each of their last two matches — against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham — needing late goals to snatch 2–2 draws.

Among fans, the debate is split. The optimists echo Amorim’s perspective after the Forest game, when Amad Diallo’s 81st-minute equaliser earned a point.

But after the late draw against Spurs — Matthijs De Ligt rescuing it with a header in the 96th minute — the pessimists argue it’s four points dropped rather than two gained. Amorim agreed that his side let it slip:

There’s clear improvement — but fine margins are still costing them.

What needs to change?

The biggest issue is defensive. United have scored 18 goals (the highest outside the top four) but have a goal difference of just +1. Amorim’s attacking approach has come at the expense of solidity, and the balance isn’t quite right.

They start games superbly — if Premier League matches ended at half-time, United would be top — but they can’t sustain it. That’s a telling indicator of their inconsistency.

There’s also an overreliance on Casemiro. Since Amorim tweaked the system — dropping the No.10s deeper and allowing his centre-backs to push into midfield — the Brazilian has thrived. With less space to cover, he dictates games with his reading of play.

The numbers tell the story: of United’s 20 goals conceded in all competitions, only five have come with Casemiro on the pitch. The other 15 have arrived when he’s rested or substituted.

The lack of a dependable deputy for the 33-year-old hurt them again last time out. When Casemiro came off against Spurs, United led through Mbeumo’s first-half header. Within minutes, substitute Manuel Ugarte was beaten too easily by Wilson Odobert in the build-up to Tottenham’s equaliser.

Off-Field stability at last

Last season’s chaos — Erik ten Hag’s sacking, player revolts, stadium talk, short-lived executives — is now firmly in the rear-view mirror.

This campaign has been calmer. The so-called “bomb squad” of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Jadon Sancho is gone, and the club’s messaging has been positive.

Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe publicly backing Amorim for a three-year project sent a strong signal of stability, even after early setbacks and a League Cup humiliation at Grimsby Town.

The club also unveiled its new and improved $65m training base at Carrington, bringing the men’s youth teams and senior teams together at the same facility.

What’s next?

United’s upcoming schedule offers opportunity. Having already faced Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea, their final eight games of 2025 look far friendlier — including home and away clashes with bottom-placed Wolves, and winnable fixtures against Everton, West Ham, Bournemouth, and Newcastle (on Boxing Day). Away trips to Crystal Palace and Aston Villa are also on the fixture list.

Manchester United’s next eight Premier League fixtures. Image: Google

But there is a catch. The African Cup of Nations looms large. Running from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, it could see United lose key players Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo, and Noussair Mazraoui for up to a month.

If the rule for clubs to release players two weeks early is enforced, United could be without the trio from the Bournemouth match onward — a major headache for Amorim at a crucial stage of the season.

Verdict

Amorim’s United are undeniably better: sharper, bolder, more confident. But they’re still learning how to win tight games — the hallmark of a top side.

The building blocks are in place. Now, it’s about turning progress into points.