FORMER Manchester United star Lee Sharpe is not convinced academy players will find it easy to break through under Ruben Amorim.
After taking over from Erik ten Hag in November, the Portuguese boss has inherited a bloated squad.
Amorim has brought his signature three-at-the-back setup to Old Trafford after enjoying continued success with Sporting Lisbon.
The system calls for persistent pressing off the ball but has yet to be fully mastered by United’s struggling stars.
Sharpe – who starred for the Red Devils in the 1990s and made his debut as a 17-year-old – is not convinced the current crop of youngsters will have similar success.
And he believes Amorim imprinting his system on the club will take time.
Sharpe told Express Sport: “I know they’ve got a couple of forwards who everyone’s raving about.
“And there are a couple of other players that are just on the fringes of the first team.
“It’s always important at United [to promote youth].
“It’s important to have a manager who encourages the youth set-up to come through and give young players a chance. But I’m not sure [they can under Amorim].”
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Sharpe’s sentiments are shared by ex-United striker Dimitar Berbatov, who doesn’t believe the Red Devils have enough strength in depth to play how Amorim wants.
The Bulgarian said: “In his first season with the in-depth squad he’s got, looking at the bench, there won’t be too many new faces coming through this season unless, of course, they fit into the system that he wants to play.
“I don’t know whether that’s going to be an easy thing for him because United have never really played three at the back and played wing-backs.
“So I’m sure there’s a couple of holding midfielders that he might want to look at and a couple of forwards.
“But as far as wing-backs and centre-halves that can play in a three, I think the whole group of players – from the Under-16s and Under-18s upwards – all may have to look at changing the way they approach games.”
Amorim has enjoyed a mixed start since taking the helm on November 1.
WHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.
Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.
But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.
Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.
He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers.
The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.
And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.
Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.
Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.
United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”
And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.
For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for.
He led United to a Manchester derby win earlier this month but has also seen his team crash to defeats against Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Tottenham, and Arsenal.
The Red Devils find themselves in the bottom half of the Premier League table at Christmas for the first time in their history.
And excluding penalties, United have conceded 17 goals from set-pieces in the English top flight this year.
That is their most in a single calendar year in the Premier League.
RUBEN AMORIM suffered his worst defeat of his short reign as Man Utd boss with a shocking 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
And his flops were easily second best all over the park to Andoni Iraola’s Cherries.
SunSport’s Ian Whittell has provided his ratings of the Man United squad…
Andre Onana – 5
Shaky on ball and his nervousness in holding it too long was transmitted to United supporters.
Bad conditions for a keeper but there were also some uncertain moments when he needed two attempts to grasp on to long shots.
Noussair Mazraoui – 4
Complained bitterly about the penalty he gave away but it was hard to make a case in his defence.
Caught out, then panicked and tripped Justin Kluivert from behind to cap what was already an uninspiring display.
Harry Maguire – 4
All too often was second to the ball or simply failed to get hold of his man, with Evanilson too elusive for the United defender to shackle.
Ruben Amorim believes Maguire is perfect for his three-at-the-back formation but the jury is still out on that one.
Lisandro Martinez – 5
Stood watching as Semenyo swept in Bournemouth’s third goal, the latest in a long line of defensive embarrassments from United.
Seems to be struggling, like most of his defensive team mates, with the new system and incapable of doing even the basics.
Diogo Dalot – 6
Made a couple of good blocks and tried to become involved in attacking moments from wing-back, without having a huge impact.
On a day when United’s defence was again found wanting, however, he was not the worst culprit.
Manuel Ugarte
Booked for a cynical foul on Kluivert and too often struggled to cope with Bournemouth runners.
Too much of the game passed him by and did not last even the hour as United chased the game.
Kobbie Mainoo 6
Like most of his team, guilty of some unforced errors but there was no faulting his work rate or drive.
Created a great chance when he hounded Dean Huijsen off the ball and set up Bruno Fernandes but gave up the ball for Bournemouth’s third.
Tyrell Malacia 3
Terrible touch early on drew groans from the home fans, the first of a number of sloppy moments from the fit-again full-back.
Predictable that he should give away the free-kick from which the visitors opened the scoring and hooked at half-time.
Amad Diallo 7
The big winner from the Rashford controversy and could have lit up Old Trafford early on but placed a good chance straight at the keeper.
Not a performance on a par with his derby exploits but still looked United’s best hope of carving out a goal.
Bruno Fernandes 8
Playing higher, and wider, up the field these days and maybe there is a debate over whether that is the best use of his undoubted talents.
But in the last five minutes of the first half alone, he had three good chances which might have brought an equaliser.
Joshua Zirkzee 5
Given the nod ahead of Rasmus Hojlund, a reward for some decent recent performances under his new manager but this was not one of them.
Was the closest Red to Dean Huijsen as he headed Bournemouth in front though United’s defending was such a mess, it was not clear whether he was Zirkzee’s responsibility.
Substitutes
Leny Yoro (for Malacia, 46) 4
Came on as part of a much-needed half-time defensive reshuffle by Amorim but failed to add stability.
Alejandro Garnacho (for Ugarte, 54) 5
Had a chance when clean through just after Bournemouth’s third but hit it straight at Kepa.
Rasmus Hojlund (for Zirkzee, 54) 6
Looked like he might have a goal in him and at least forced Kepa into one good stop.
Substitutes (not used): Altay Bayindir, Casemiro, Toby Collyer, Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans, Antony.
Following the 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth, Amorim said: “It’s hard. In this context, it’s hard to push for two or three wins. We’re trying. But this game was hard on us.
“Without any situation we suffered again at set-pieces. We were a little bit nervous, the stadium.
“We controlled the rest of the first half with some clear chances, and then in the second with the penalty and then another goal is really hard on everyone here.
“In this kind of moment, everything is hard on us.”
