For an entire hour, Manchester United played with only ten men and managed to defeat Arsenal through a penalty shootout, advancing to the FA Cup's round of 32, a result that many did not expect before the match. This is also the second time in two years that head coach Amorim has eliminated Arsenal via a penalty shootout; the first instance occurred in the Europa League at the Emirates Stadium, where Sporting CP from Portugal knocked out their opponents in the round of 16, with Martinelli being the only player from both teams to miss his penalty.
If we exclude penalties, Manchester United has been unable to secure a victory in any of their six games since their comeback against Manchester City. However, in the recent two matches against Liverpool and Arsenal, fans have expressed satisfaction, at least seeing some hope. Additionally, by trusting two players, Amorim has received positive returns, something that Ten Hag was unable to achieve during his two-year tenure.
Maguire, who faced much controversy under Ten Hag, had his captain's armband taken away and endured widespread criticism. Despite this, the former captain remained diligent and did not publicly utter a single word of dissatisfaction, serving as a model for other players. Even when he was on the brink of leaving the team, Maguire continued to work diligently, giving his all whenever he took the field. One wonders if Rashford felt any emotional impact upon witnessing this display.
Earlier, Manchester United activated an extension clause, ensuring that Maguire would remain with the club for at least another 18 months. The former double captain of both Manchester United and England stated that his first two seasons at Old Trafford were his golden years. Approaching the age of 32, he feels good both mentally and physically and hopes to return to his best form from the past.
Since Amorim joined the team, the three-man defensive system has rejuvenated Maguire. Similar to his experience with the English national team, Maguire appears to be more adaptable to this tactic, showing increasing stability and seemingly rediscovering his past reliability. It seems that it's not that the players are inadequate, but rather how the coach utilizes them. With the trust placed in him, Maguire can still shine at Manchester United.
Bailly, who has been virtually absent for the past two years, also gained Amorim's favor and quickly received several opportunities to play. Although there was a significant mistake in the League Cup against Tottenham, where Son Heung-min scored directly from a corner kick, resulting in the team's elimination. Despite rumors of a transfer, Amorim chose to continue trusting his second-choice goalkeeper, which proved to be a rewarding decision.
Against Arsenal, Bailly may have made some mistakes due to limited playing time, but his contributions outweighed his errors. He repeatedly saved close-range shots from Arsenal players, keeping the goal intact and extending the game to 120 minutes. More importantly, he saved a penalty from Odegaard during regular time and another from Havertz during the penalty shootout, making two consecutive saves to ensure Manchester United's advancement. He could be considered the top contributor to the victory over Arsenal.
It must be said that the trust placed in Maguire and Bailly has allowed Manchester United to temporarily emerge from their slump and regain the affection of their fans. Over the past two years, Maguire has seen very few appearances, while Bailly has been relegated to obscurity. Ten Hag preferred to use Onana, who was constantly traveling for the Africa Cup of Nations, rather than启用 his second-choice goalkeeper. Even when he promised to use Bailly in the Champions League, he broke his word and insisted on playing Onana, leading to Manchester United's defeat against Galatasaray and their eventual elimination from the group stage.
Over the past two years, Ten Hag only trusted his inner circle, while Amorim adheres to one principle: as long as players meet his requirements in training, they can play. He openly praised Garnacho, believing that the Argentine's outstanding performance in training merited playing time, which led to a calm assist helping the team take the lead. Having earned Amorim's trust, Garnacho changed his previously somewhat "selfish" style, unselfishly passing the ball to assist Fernandes' goal, causing fans to exclaim in surprise.
Trust can yield returns, and words spoken should be turned into reality through effort. At least in this aspect, Amorim has accomplished what Ten Hag failed to do in two years, earning unanimous approval. The changes in Garnacho, as well as the excellent performances of Bailly and Maguire, have brought about satisfying returns.
As for Rashford, Amorim must have observed something that ordinary fans did not see. The highest-paid player within the team being unable to play must have been approved by the management. If the decision is made not to trust someone, there should be no hesitation; if necessary, let go decisively. This resolute approach marks the beginning of an era under Amorim for Manchester United.