\n<\/p>\n
While results were not always good, players remained onside – at least those who were not in the ‘bomb squad’ exiled at the start of pre-season training.<\/p>\n
Speaking to players publicly and privately during United’s summer trip to the United States, there was genuine enthusiasm for the season that lay ahead.<\/p>\n
Amorim had a few quirks, but most coaches do.<\/p>\n
When United opened their doors for the first 15 minutes of training the day before European games, it was strange to see Amorim watch the sprints and rondos on a different pitch – sometimes 50 yards away, and far removed from his coaching staff.<\/p>\n
He was far more involved – whistle in hand – when the sessions began, though he wasn’t keen to let the media into those.<\/p>\n
There was a full open session in Malaysia on United’s post-season trip in May, but that whole expedition was not run on fully professional lines given the amount of downtime that was allowed.<\/p>\n
Once United arrived at their training base in Chicago in July, access was limited. The candour of Amorim’s media conferences was not matched by his openness with training.<\/p>\n
He was meticulous in his preparation, though.<\/p>\n
Footage of his first training session at United showed him explaining to midfielder Kobbie Mainoo exactly how many strides he needed to move after laying off a pass, then where to open out his body to create maximum passing angles.<\/p>\n
In the summer, he had two players taking up the same positions in training, then ran through different scenarios to ensure they moved into the right area of the pitch.<\/p>\n
While this may seem peculiar – and would have looked so had anyone witnessed it -it does make sense given individuals were allocated positions and a hierarchy installed.<\/p>\n
The theory and practice is good. But events in actual matches take their course.<\/p>\n
Amorim could have chosen four players for each position and might not have ended up with Mason Mount at left wing-back, which former United skipper Gary Neville criticised him so strongly for in the wake of a 3-1 defeat at Brentford.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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