Opposition briefing: Ruben Amorim's Manchester United

Match previews

12 hours ago

Crystal Palace return to action on Sunday, 2nd February (14:00 GMT) with a trip to the North-West to face Manchester United. Here's everything you need to know about the Red Devils and Ruben Amorim...

Factfile

Manager: Ruben Amorim
Position: 12th
Nickname: The Red Devils
Ground: Old Trafford
Founded: 1878 (147 years ago - as Newton Heath)

What’s the story?

Where to begin with Manchester United's 2024/25 season?

After stunning local rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup Final last May, United decided to stick with Erik ten Hag as their head coach, following an end-of-season performance review.

But after a disappointing start, winning just two of their first six league games, the Dutch coach was under instant pressure. He subsequently left Old Trafford following a 2-1 defeat at lowly West Ham, departing with the team 14th in the table.

Club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy, who had joined as Ten Hag's assistant in the off-season, stepped in to take charge on an interim basis and provided an initial lift, with three wins and one draw in four matches across all competitions.

In, then, came Ruben Amorim after the United hierarchy managed to convince him to leave Sporting Lisbon mid-season. Results have proved tricky to come by since, with three defeats in a row over the Christmas period.

However, the Red Devils have shown signs of improvement since his arrival, notably with a dramatic Manchester derby victory at the Etihad Stadium, a well-earned 2-2 draw at Liverpool, and an FA Cup triumph away at Arsenal.

The boss

After ending a 13-year playing career spent nearly entirely within Portugal, Ruben Amorim undertook his coaching qualifications and first worked as manager at Casa Pia and Braga.

In 2020, with only two years of experience under his belt he was poached by Sporting CP, who paid €10 million for his buy-out clause, at the time making him the third most expensive manager in history.

Amorim led Sporting to two league titles and two Portuguese League Cups during his time at the club. Amorim tended to favour a back-three structure with Sporting and, during his time in charge, his side has played a heavily possession-based game.

Implementing that style successfully at United – while taking them back to a position where they are competing for major honours – is his next challenge.

Boot in both camps

A legend as a manager for Palace, Steve Coppell became a legend as a player at Manchester United in the late seventies and early eighties.

Wilfred Zaha spent a season at United, after joining them from Palace back in the summer of 2013. However, he would famously return to Selhurst Park, initially on-loan the following summer, before making the move back permanent in January 2014.

In the 13 years after his senior Palace debut, Zaha scored 90 goals for the club, including 68 in the Premier League; was voted the club’s Player of the Season in three consecutive years; and became one of world football’s most consistently exciting forwards, as well as one of the Eagles' greatest ever players.

Although Palace graduate Aaron Wan-Bissaka left the North-West this summer with a switch to West Ham, he is another to have played for both clubs in recent years.

And a trio of goalkeepers, including Palace's current No. 1 Dean Henderson, have spent time in both South London and at Old Trafford. Henderson, Jack Butland and Sam Johnstone all came through the ranks at United, before later having spells at the Eagles.

Record against Palace

Last season saw the Eagles produce one of their best performances in recent memory against Manchester United in a dominant 4-0 win at Selhurst Park.

This also completed a first-ever league double over the Red Devils, following a win at Old Trafford on our last visit to the 'Theatre of Dreams.' Joachim Andersen's stunning effort was enough on that day, with Sam Johnstone producing an excellent display in goal to keep a clean sheet.

That was our third success at Old Trafford in the Premier League, all three coming in the last six years.

Access all over | Manchester United 0-1 Crystal Palace

We did also secure a famous win there in the League Cup back in 2011 – Darren Ambrose's thunderbolt and all that.

The reverse game in September was rather more tame than either of last season's fixtures and finished 0-0, the first goalless encounter between the two teams in seven meetings.

Access All Over | PL MORNINGS LIVE SPECIAL: Manchester United (H)

Did you know?

Founded by railway workers as ‘Newton Heath LYR [Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway]’ in 1878, by 1902 Manchester United were in deep financial trouble and was served with a winding-up order. Club captain Harry Stafford searched for investment, sending his St Bernard dog Major around with a collection tin attached to his collar.

Major the dog caught the attention of local brewery magnate John Henry Davies, who was so taken by the dog he offered to buy it for his daughter, and in doing so enquired about the collection tin; he would go on to save the club.

That year, they rebranded. After considering ‘Manchester Central’ and ‘Manchester Celtic’, they settled on a new name: Manchester United.

Crystal Palace helped to fund a stained-glass tribute to Duncan Edwards in Dudley, his home town, three years after his death in the 1958 Munich air disaster.

Both Palace and Brentford, and local bowling club Wren’s Nest, helped United to finance the tribute inside St Francis church, and as such as there is Palace crest alongside two depictions of Edwards.

Quite why the club became involved isn’t entirely known, beyond paying its respects. They were linked by Peter Berry, whose brother Johnny survived the crash after being treated alongside Edwards.

When Sir Matt Busby unveiled St Francis’ tribute to Edwards, he said: “These windows should keep alive his name forever, and they will shine always.”

Match details

Sunday, 2nd February
14:00 GMT
Old Trafford
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+

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