Mainoo In, Dorgu Out? Manchester United’s Winners and Losers After Amorim’s Sacking

Ruben Amorim was given his marching orders by Manchester United on Monday a day after expressing his frustration with the club’s hierarchy for denying him control on certain issues.

Amorim lasted just 14 months in the job and leaves as the coach who had one of the worst win rates in United’s history.

Following his dismissal, club legend Darren Fletcher has been put in charge on an interim basis, but there is no denying that his departure will have an impact on the squad, both negative and positive.

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Amorim favoured a 3-4-2-1 system, one of the reasons he is believed to have fallen out with his bosses, who sought to have him make some compromises, and bought a number of players designed to fit into the way he wanted his team to play.

But now with his exit, there are those who will be worried about their places in the team while others are looking forward to a new lease of life.

So, who are the winners and losers of Amorim’s sacking from Manchester United?

There is no denying that Kobbie Mainoo will be delighted to see Amorim leave as he had become a frustrated figure under the Portuguese coach.

The United academy graduate rarely got opportunities under Amorim and was looking to leave the club this month. That might be put on hold as he could enjoy a new lease of life under Fletcher and whoever takes over from him after.

One of the players who will be worried about their spots in the team is full-back Patrick Dorgu who was signed to play in the left wingback role.

The Danish youngster has not covered himself in glory during his one year at the club and with the return to fitness of Luke Shaw, the latter is set to go back to left-back, leaving him fighting for his place.

The United captain was among the first ones to wish Amorim well when he was sacked but deep inside, he will be hoping to return to his preferred position in the team.

A specialist No.10, who has created loads of chances and scored many goals from that position, Fernandes had been deployed in a deeper midfield role by Amorim, which did not bring out the best in him while it exposed his weaknesses but now, he is set to return to his preferred spot.

With Fernandes returning to the N.10, that potentially spells doom for Mason Mount, who had excelled under Amorim as one of the two behind the striker in the 3-4-2-1 system.

While Mount can also play out wide, United have Matheus Cunha, Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo who will be looking to play there if and when the new coach returns to a back four, hence limiting his opportunities.

Could Amorim’s departure see a sensational return to United for Marcus Rashford? Amorim fell out with the United fan-favourite just weeks after his appointment and the forward was shipped out on loan to Aston Villa and now Barcelona.

While Barcelona have an option to make the deal permanent, Rashford now has an opportunity to return to United and start on a clean slate, if the Spanish giants opt against signing him in the summer, something that looked impossible under Amorim.

Defender Harry Maguire has done brilliantly at United to win back his place in the team; first under Erik ten Hag and during Amorim’s tenure, but with the Portuguese gone, he finds himself in a place where he will have to fight again.

Maguire is one of the most experienced in the squad but some things could work against him. The first one is that his lack of pace seemed not to be an issue when he played in a back three but that could change with a back four, especially with the more mobile Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez available as well as the young and athletic Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro.

The other thing is that Maguire’s contract is up in the summer and while Amorim leaned towards an extension, that will not be certain under a new man in charge.