Ruben Amorim is gearing up to return to England with AC Milan to face Bournemouth on Matchday 3 of the Europa League.

As Tuttosport (via MilanPress) write this morning, it’s a trip that holds extra significance for Amorim, for a few different reasons. Above all though it is a chance for his side to win a third straight game, and also to move onto six points in their European campaign.

The game goes beyond the league table and European aspirations for the coach. Returning to England also means coming to terms with an experience that – between dashed expectations and internal tensions – ended very differently than he had imagined.

Rough time with the Red Devils

In November 2024, Manchester United paid Sporting CP’s €11m release clause to appoint him as manager and succeed Erik ten Hag. After Ruud van Nistelrooy’s four-match interim spell, Amorim arrived at Old Trafford with high expectations.

In England, he was hailed as a potential ‘New Special One’, but his adventure quickly turned into a disappointment. His relationship with the media, some of the fans and especially with the United management never really took off.

His first season ended with a 15th-placed finish in the Premier League and a defeat in the Europa League final against Tottenham, although it must be remembered that he came in midway through.

The dismissal came midway through the following season, on 4 January 2026, after a draw against Leeds. The decision was driven not only by the results, but also by tensions with the club’s management and some particularly outspoken comments made by the manager.

“I notice you’re getting selective information about everything. I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not just the coach,” he said.

“I know my name isn’t Tuchel, Conte, or Mourinho, but I am the manager of Manchester United and will be for another 18 months, or whenever the board decides to change things. I want to make this clear. If someone can’t handle the pressure of criticism, then it’s better to change the club.”

These words further ignited the rift with those above him, leading to the eventual separation. The overall record at Old Trafford was not positive: 63 matches, 24 wins, 18 draws, and 21 defeats , with an average of 1.43 points per game.

Stubbornness causes issues

One of the main points of contention at Manchester United was the tactical approach. Amorim continued to rely on his 3-4-2-1 formation, a system he had also used with conviction during his time at Sporting, despite pressure from the management to change the team’s structure.

The Portuguese coach also clashed with several players, while discussions with management figures like Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada had fuelled tensions. His stance remained rigid, summed up in a phrase that has become iconic: “No one will ever be able to convince me [to abandon his system], not even if the Pope asked me to.”

Amorim seems to have learned a lesson from it. In his last month at the helm of Milan, the Portuguese has shown greater flexibility, seeking tactical solutions better suited to his players’ characteristics and adapting the team to the needs that emerged on the pitch.

It’s a significant change from the English experience: less ideological rigidity and a greater willingness to find a balance between one’s own beliefs and the quality of the squad.

Going back to England

The away match against Bournemouth therefore represents an opportunity to measure Milan’s progress, but also a chance for Amorim to return to England with a different feeling than he left in Manchester.

Then there’s a personal connection to the Rossoneri colours. Having grown up following football and the great Milan sides, the former Sporting CP coach sees Milanello as a new opportunity to relaunch his career after a difficult spell in the Premier League.

There’s still a long way to go, but the signs of recent weeks suggest a coach who’s more willing to question himself and find alternative solutions. Now, the European challenge offers the opportunity to see how much the team has grown and how much Amorim has managed to turn over a new leaf.

Milan are seeking a third consecutive victory, while their manager wants to put the bitter memories of Manchester United behind them. Beating Bournemouth for the first time would help, given he has drawn twice and lost once against them.