While the eyes of the football world will be on Ruben Amorim this week, the Portuguese has slipped quietly below the radar on his two previous visits to Old Trafford.
A late substitute in Benfica’s 2011 Champions League group stage visit, he helped Jorge Jesus’s side preserve a 2-2 draw which damaged United’s chances of qualification and ultimately ended in relegation to the Europa League, while a year on he completed 80 minutes of Braga’s 3-2 Champions League defeat in which United came from two goals down to win.
Neat, tidy and accomplished, Amorim’s contribution to both games was effective but drew little fanfare, maintaining the theme of much of his career in which he was a valuable team player who spurned the spotlight.