Ruben Amorim picks out one Manchester United player he is already smitten with… and why he can be a star in his 3-4-3 system

Ruben Amorim has revealed that he is in ‘love’ with one of Manchester United’s forgotten stars with the player tipped for a bright future under the new boss.

Amorim sat down with the club’s own media team on Friday afternoon having just held his first press conference as Manchester United head coach.

While many questions from reporters centred on his 3-4-3 system and whether he believes he can be the man to turn Manchester United around, in this in-house chat it was one particular player that felt Amorim’s love.

‘I have to tell you I love that kid,’ Amorim said.

‘You can look in his eyes that he wants this so bad. And this is the most important thing for me.’

The player that had Amorim waxing lyrical was Mason Mount, who has seen his time at United spoiled by persistent issues with injury.

Mason Mount (middle) has struggled with injury since arriving but Amorim is keen on him

‘I know he was suffering from injuries, he was not on the pitch, but now he’s trying to stay fit and we hope he can continue to be fit, to show all the talent that he’s shown, for example, in Chelsea,’ Amorim added.

Mount was Erik ten Hag’s priority midfield signing when he arrived in the summer of 2023 – with Amorim’s predecessor believing the former Chelsea man could be a key piece of the puzzle at Old Trafford.

But injuries have held Mount back and he has been limited to just 26 appearances in a Manchester United shirt so far.

Mount has fallen out of the thinking on the international stage with England – but that was to Amorim’s benefit this week as he got to work closely with Mount in training.

One of the appeals to Amorim with Mount is that he worked in a 3-4-3 system at Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel and so understands the nuances that his current team-mates are getting to grips with.

‘He played in this system [before], so it’s perfect for him,’ Amorim added.

‘I have two positions for Mason Mount, so he should be very happy!’

In the 3-4-3 system, there are two spots behind a central striker and Mount is in competition with Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo to play in one of two No 10 roles.

Mount has worked previously in a 3-4-3 system and that is Amorim’s preferred formation

Amorim has worked with Mount and others this week and has waxed lyrical of the midfielder

Mount was integral for Tuchel in that role in the 2021-22 season and already Amorim is enamoured with Mount and his potential under his management.

Mount joined in a deal worth up to £60million and is under contract until 2028 and so getting a tune out of him is one of Amorim’s priorities.

The midfielder rarely gives interviews but even before Amorim’s arrival he spoke glowingly of a squad he believes can compete for trophies.

‘We know what we can do as a group and I think we showed it at the end of last season,’ Mount said in a rare club interview given over the summer. 

‘We definitely have a group that can win trophies and that’s the most important thing.

‘We’ll keep trying to do that and stay focused on that goal, because this is Manchester United and we need to set the bar as high as we can and we know how high the bar is.

‘Now it’s time for us to perform. But we’re ready for it, as I said, and as many trophies as we can get, win as many games as we can.’

Mount is pushing for a starting spot in Amorim’s first game away to Ipswich Town on Sunday afternoon.