Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has voiced strong support for Ruben Amorim’s disciplined approach as the club’s manager, emphasizing the Portuguese coach’s clear tactical vision and charismatic leadership.
Speaking in an interview with Webby & O’Neill in May 2025, Giggs highlighted Amorim’s commitment to his 3-4-2-1 formation, a system that has defined his successful tenure at Sporting CP, where he won three Primeira Liga titles.
However, Giggs cautioned that Manchester United’s squad must fully adapt to this formation to reverse the club’s fortunes after a disastrous 2024/25 Premier League season, which saw them finish 15th, their worst-ever top-flight position.
Amorim, who joined United in November 2024, has remained steadfast in implementing his 3-4-2-1 system, characterized by a back three, dynamic wing-backs, a compact midfield pivot, and two attacking midfielders supporting a central striker. Giggs praised Amorim’s discipline, noting, “He’s charismatic, he needs time, he needs a few transfer windows, but also he needs help on what is a United player and what a United player looks like.”
This reflects Amorim’s insistence on a structured, high-pressing game that demands tactical discipline and adaptability, qualities that have yet to fully take root in a squad built for a different system under previous manager Erik ten Hag.
The transition to Amorim’s tactics has been challenging. United’s squad, originally assembled for a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, lacks the natural wing-backs and dynamic midfielders suited to his setup. Giggs, a winger during his playing career, acknowledged the system’s limitations for traditional wingers like Alejandro Garnacho, stating, “I’m biased, I’m a winger… This system that Ruben is determined to keep doesn’t really cater to that.”
He suggested that players like Amad Diallo or Garnacho could be converted into wing-backs, but emphasized the need for specialized recruitment to fill these roles effectively. The club’s financial constraints, exacerbated by a £113 million net loss in 2023/24 and significant spending on Ten Hag’s sacking and Amorim’s appointment, limit immediate squad overhaul possibilities.
United’s struggles were evident in their 17 league defeats, including a 1-0 loss to Tottenham in the Europa League final, which cost them a potential £100 million Champions League windfall. Giggs warned that players like Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia, who he believes have “no way back” at United, must be moved on to raise funds for Amorim’s vision. Rashford, currently on loan at Aston Villa, has shown glimpses of form, but Giggs noted his lack of enjoyment at United, suggesting a permanent move elsewhere could benefit all parties.
Despite these challenges, Giggs sees potential in Amorim’s approach, pointing to United’s competitive performances against top sides like Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal as signs of progress.
To succeed, Amorim will need time to mold the squad, with players like Lisandro Martinez, Manuel Ugarte, and Amad Diallo seen as good fits for his system due to their ball-playing ability, defensive tenacity, and versatility, respectively.
Giggs stressed that United’s recruitment must align with Amorim’s philosophy, targeting players with the athleticism and tactical nous to execute his high-intensity, possession-oriented style.
Without significant adaptation from the current squad or strategic signings, United risk further stagnation, but Giggs remains optimistic that Amorim’s disciplined leadership can restore the club’s identity with the right support.
