Better concentration, physicality and finishing.
Those are just three of the things that Ruben Amorim will note when he finally gets around to watching the video of Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
He will enjoy some of the footage, including the energy of Noussair Mazraoui and the impassioned support of the United fans, but he will also be reminded of the scale of the challenge he takes on when he arrives as United’s latest saviour on November 11.
He hardly needs to be the most eagle-eyed of coaches to spot swiftly that the squad needs strengthening. If Joshua Kirkzee and Victor Lindelof are two of the first three arrivals from the bench, then better recruits are required.
United were really missing only Luke Shaw, arguably Lenny Yoro in a three and Kobbie Mainoo if Casemiro continues to slow.
Stronger characters are needed as well as better players. United’s mood and tempo were undeniably improved since the departure of Erik ten Hag but then it could not get much lower or slower.
Ruud van Nistelrooy has had an impact. Amorim will have even more.
Goals are a problem. The presence in the technical area of Van Nistelrooy, ninth in United’s all-time scoring list (150 in 219 games) simply highlighted the lack of cutting edge in the penalty area.
Over the 97 minutes against Chelsea, United managed 11 shots, but only four on target.
Marcus Rashford hit the bar with a volley from a sublime Bruno Fernandes cross and had a low shot held by Robert Sanchez.
Rasmus Hojlund ran hard in the channels but never looked like scoring. Alejandro Garnacho placed one shot wide, skied another and had a low effort held easily by Sanchez.
United’s 70th-minute goal came from a set-piece, a penalty well-taken by Fernandes. It was awarded following Hojlund’s sole touch in the box, a really neat one, controlling Casemiro’s raking pass over Wesley Fofana with his left instep and being brought down by Sanchez.
If that was a well-timed run by a United attacker, Amorim will see he also needs to work on attackers beating the offside trap, whether delaying the run (Garnacho) or curving runs to stay onside (Hojlund).
Amorim will surely demand better concentration levels.
After taking the lead, United switched off and were punished inside four minutes.
Cole Palmer curled a corner in, Casemiro headed out but United failed to spot Moises Caicedo lurking on the edge of the area. He met Casemiro’s clearance with exceptional technique, the ball flying between Mykhailo Mudryk’s legs and past Andre Onana.
Amorim will want more physicality. Wesley Fofana muscled Hojlund, then Zirkzee off the ball while Pedro Neto was too strong for Garnacho.
United’s incoming head coach will not want excessive physicality as shown by Lisandro Martinez. The United centre-back became frustrated with Palmer and launched himself at him, almost making contact with raised studs on the Chelsea playmaker’s kneecap.
United need more discipline. Fernandes is a one-man debating society. United’s captain was busy arguing with Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s head coach, at one point. What was the point? Get on with the game.
If he keeps the volume on the video, Amorim will appreciate a loud and loyal support desperately craving better performances and results.
Amorim will have seen Van Nistelrooy making an entrance that could have been out of ‘Gladiator’, and then walking back to the tunnel punching his chest in front of a noisy Stretford End.
Most obviously, Amorim will have seen a group of players low on confidence. He can invigorate them with his words and then try and make them more compact, starting with making midfield less easy to play through. Defence needs better protection.
But can this squad provide enough talent for his 3-4-3?
Andre Onana is a decent keeper, but has to be more careful in some of his distribution. He played a dangerous ball to Casemiro, who was under pressure from Caicedo and Chelsea almost scored.
In front of Onana, Matthijs de Ligt shows signs of improving form, making some good blocks. Martinez would fill the left-sided of the three centre-back positions, and Yoro on the right when fit.
Mazraoui played as a left-back here but like Diogo Dalot can surely play wing-back either side. Mazraoui was United’s best player, completing 33 of 36 passes, winning 13 of his 16 duels, and completing all five of his dribbles.
Van Nistelrooy played a defensive central midfield in Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro. Casemiro played some fine passes but is vulnerable to pace, being beaten by an elegant first touch and burst of pace by Palmer and then caught out by Neto down the flank.
Where does Rashford fit into a 3-4-3? He hasn’t got the defensive discipline to play wing-back but obviously could feature either side of the front three.
The problem for Rashford will come if Amorim tweaks the attack to 3-4-2-1 and starts two 10s, so accommodating Fernandes as he surely will.
The video will remind Amorim of the size of the task not only internally but externally.
Chelsea were far from their best, comfortably took a point away from home and had the best player on the pitch in Caicedo. Not only did he score, but he was the best ball-winner on show and one of the best passers, including expert deliveries to Palmer and Mudryk.
Amorim is stepping into a league where the opposition can have £106m world champions and £60m European champions on the bench as Chelsea had in Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella respectively.
Amorim will need time, patience and some new recruits. The important thing is he is likely to get them all.
