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RUBEN AMORIM has matched the records held by Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Matt Busby.
The Portuguese manager has secured three wins in his first five games since taking over from Erik ten Hag.
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Amorim, 39, is still looking to ignite his Red Devils campaign in the Premier League, having secured only one win from four attempts.
In European competitions, though, he has successfully led the team to two victories out of two.
Manchester United clinched a win against Bodo/Glimt in their first Europa League match under Amorim’s guidance.
The former Sporting Lisbon coach also orchestrated a turnaround victory against Viktoria Plzen on Thursday.
Thanks to these two wins, Amorim shares a record with distinguished managers Ferguson and Busby.
He has followed their path by winning his first two matches in a major European tournament as the Manchester United manager.
Ferguson, 82, won his first four games in the Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup in 1990.
His team achieved victories over Pecsi MFC and Wrexham in two-legged ties before earning a 1-1 draw against Montpellier.
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Amorim seeks to extend his winning streak to match Ferguson’s record.
His upcoming matches include facing the Rangers and FCSB before the Europa League group stage wraps up.
Man Utd teammates engaged in a heated dispute on the pitch after narrowly beating Viktoria Plzen
Manchester United player ratings vs Plzen as Hojlund and Amad rescue Onana from a subpar performance
ANDRE ONANA was spared from criticism by Rasmus Hojlund as Manchester United rallied to overcome Viktoria Plzen.
Here’s how SunSport’s Henry Tomlinson assessed the Red Devils players…
Andre Onana – 4
Onana began the match shakily, injuring Casemiro, and struggled to handle the opponent’s crosses effectively.
A significant error allowed Plzen to take the lead following a poor pass that caught his defense off guard.
Diogo Dalot – 6
Dalot made positive forward runs to support attacks and was consistently solid defensively.
Noussair Mazraoui – 6
Playing in a more central position, Mazraoui effectively used his pace to bolster defense.
Matthijs de Ligt – 6
Though let down by Onana’s pass that led to the opener, he had a commendable 90 minutes otherwise.
Lisandro Martinez – 6
Contributed to forward play while facing challenges from the physical presence of the Plzen attackers.
Tyrell Malacia – 6
Showed limited involvement in the wing-back role, struggling to connect with Marcus Rashford.
Casemiro – 6
Progressed the ball when circumstances allowed and bounced back well after an early clash with Onana.
Bruno Fernandes – 7
Fortunate to escape an early booking, Fernandes forced the goalkeeper into action with a solid shot in the first half and set up Hojlund for the crucial winner.
Amad Diallo – 8
Diallo emerged as a key performer in United’s offensive display against Plzen, contributing significantly to the equalizer with his pace and skill.
Marcus Rashford – 4
Rashford struggled with decision making, losing possession frequently and receiving an early caution for a needless foul. He was close to being sent off in the second half before being substituted by Ruben Amorim.
Joshua Zirkzee – 6
Provided a solid performance as a center-forward, holding play and aiding the team.
Subs
Rasmus Hojlund 55′ – 8
Hojlund showcased exceptional striker instincts, placing himself ideally to net the equalizer and then scoring the winner from Fernandes’ clever assist.
Antony 60′ – 6
Assisted in creating the equalizer through collaboration with Diallo.
Mason Mount 60′ – 7
Made a notable contribution post-substitution, unlucky not to score after two attempts were thwarted by the goalkeeper.
Alejandro Garnacho 80′ – N/A
Had little impact in his brief appearance on the pitch.
Manuel Ugarte 80′ – N/A
Joined the midfield to take over from Casemiro late in the game.
Meanwhile, Amorim is keen to improve Manchester United’s standing in the Premier League this weekend.
Sunday will mark his first encounter in the Manchester derby as manager of the Red Devils.
Manchester City will host Amorim’s squad at the Etihad Stadium, where Pep Guardiola is also searching for a revival in form.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager is currently experiencing his toughest stretch at City.
City has managed only one victory in their last ten outings, suffering a setback against Juventus in the Champions League.
Ahead of the derby, Amorim expressed that his focus is squarely on his team’s challenges.
He stated, “I do not dwell on those matters.
“We are up against a strong opponent, and I am more focused on our own issues.
“We have many challenges to address, so my primary focus lies on what we need to do on Sunday to achieve victory.
“I am entirely devoted to my team.”
Three Sporting stars Amorim could pursue after taking over at Manchester United
RUBEN AMORIM has rejected the notion of bringing in any Sporting Lisbon players during the January transfer window.
However, officials from the Portuguese club are expectant that Amorim will seek new additions by the summer, with appropriate financial backing.
Here are three Sporting stars that Manchester United might consider acquiring… even if they won’t come cheap:
VIKTOR GYOKERES
Age: 26
Position: Striker
Cost: £84 million
The Swedish striker has made a remarkable impression since moving to Sporting from Coventry last summer, drawing attention from top European clubs.
He scored 43 goals in 50 matches last season and already has 18 goals this term.
GONCALO INACIO
Age: 23
Position: Defender
Cost: £50 million
This ball-playing center-back was introduced to the first team by Amorim and has become a vital asset in Sporting’s recent championship successes.
He can also be deployed as a left-back if necessary and has earned 12 caps for the Portuguese national team.
MORTEN HJULMAND
Age: 25
Position: Midfielder
Cost: £40 million
The Danish midfielder is hailed as one of the top holding players in Portugal and has been appointed as captain by Amorim.
He could be a suitable replacement for Casemiro.
