United 'are starving for leaders', admits Amorim

When Ruben Amorim got to convey good news, it still came with a demand.

- RICHARD JOLLY

He informed Harry Maguire that Manchester United were triggering the extension to his contract, capping a personal renaissance after the defender lost his place and the captaincy under Erik ten Hag. But Amorim wants to see more as Maguire is tied down for another year at Old Trafford. “He has to improve as a leader,” said the head coach.

If Amorim was imported to bring his brand of leadership, a youthful manager feels he has too few authority figures on the field. “When you look at our team, we are starving for leaders on the pitch,” said Amorim. If it was damning, United have some of the symptoms of teams who often lack leaders.

They can struggle to respond to setbacks. They concede goals in quick succession; two in three minutes to Bournemouth, in seven to Nottingham Forest, in nine to Tottenham. They sometimes lose their way in games. Over the last two years, they have suffered heavy defeats or lost matches when they had the pressure of being favourites. There are times when they lack control: it could be attributed in the past to the sacked Ten Hag’s chaotic tactics and more recently to a struggle to adapt to Amorim’s very different system.

Yet it is an indictment because, in theory, United’s squad should be packed with leaders. Their last two defeats, however, have come without their chosen captain still able to influence proceedings. Bruno Fernandes has led by the wrong sort of example at times: his third red card of the campaign – admittedly, the first was rescinded – was followed by the concession of two goals to Wolves.