Ruben Amorim is foreshadowing another period of “struggle” in Manchester when the Africa Cup of Nations gets underway in December.
The Portuguese coach is approaching his one-year anniversary in charge of the Red Devils, having overseen the club’s worst season since the Premier League’s inauguration in 2024–25.
However, there have at least been signs of competence at the start of the new campaign, with Matthijs de Ligt’s last-gasp header at Tottenham Hotspur extending their unbeaten run to four games. A reduced workload has so far worked to their advantage, but the games will arrive thick and fast for Amorim’s men as the calendar year veers towards its conclusion.
And this time, plenty of Premier League managers will have to work around the festivities without their African contingents. Amorim is unlikely to have more than a couple flying to Morocco in the build-up to Christmas, but those who are poised to compete have proven to be important figures for the Manchester United boss.
Here’s who the Red Devils will be without for AFCON.
