After their first-ever League Cup elimination at the hands of a fourth-tier team last night, a disappointed Rúben Amorim said that you can't change 22 players. Maybe so, but the hierarchy can definitely make an impact with a change of attitude.

Manchester United’s rebuild has been built and destroyed many times over the last decade. If anything, they must now show more guts and stand by their decision to appoint Amorim, or risk repeating the same cycle.

From David Moyes to Erik ten Hag, the club has shifted philosophies, splashed fortunes on players, and yet found itself circling the same loop of disappointment. The same ending to every story. But it is time they broke out.

Now under Rúben Amorim, the question is whether they will finally stick to a vision rather than recycle managers and strategies. But yesterday's loss at Grimsby appeared to have shaken their resolve, and they once again look ready to fold under external pressure.

Everyone, from enraged fans to critics, knew that transitioning from the situation Manchester United finds itself in would not be easy. But many still demand steady results at all times. Not entirely their fault, as the Portuguese coach had resources to spend, enough for fans to expect more.

Yet despite all their afflictions, here are five strategies the club can employ to guide itself out of the mud and genuinely set itself up for long-term success in the Premier League.

1. Keep Rúben Amorim and Set a Timeline for the Project

If United wants to truly transform, it must break the habit of treating managers as disposable assets. Amorim is not just a coach with fresh ideas; he is a modern tactician who has already proved his worth at Sporting CP.

His achievements didn’t come from instant impact alone; they came from trust. Sporting backed him through rocky spells, and the results followed. Even if the task is tougher in the Premier League, the lesson remains the same.

Amorim thrives in a 3-4-3 system with high wing-backs, but United’s squad isn’t naturally set up for that yet. Adaptation periods are inevitable, and that is a phase the club is currently going through.

The hierarchy must assure him of their full backing. The club is broken, and fixing it requires a manager who is above the players, not one who becomes their puppet. Managers work best when they feel ownership is behind them.

United cannot afford a repeat what happened to Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, or Erik Ten Hag, who often looked abandoned when results dipped. Public support breeds confidence.

Look at Liverpool under Klopp: his first season ended in eighth place. Had the board panicked and shown him the exit, their era of glory would never have happened.

United must set and communicate a realistic timeline, five years, for instance. Year one for restructuring, year two for tactical identity, year three for Champions League contention, and the following years for titles. Without a roadmap, every setback feels like failure.

Do not sack Amorim unless he chooses to walk away. Authority must rest with him if United are to break the post-Ferguson cycle.

2. Turn a Deaf Ear to Fans and Critics

Old Trafford has become a theatre of noise. Every defeat sparks hashtags and endless pundit frenzy. But with management backing, these distractions should not derail the project.

Do not sign players to please anyone. For too long, United have been guilty of statement signings; Ronaldo, Di María, Pogba, Lukaku, Sancho, names that silenced critics briefly but never changed the club’s trajectory.

Amorim has already leaned on new signings at the expense of young talent. The hierarchy must learn from Arsenal under Arteta, who resisted pressure and instead built with system-fit players like Martinelli, Gabriel, and Saliba.

Think of it, if the aforementioned had come to Arsenal as superstars, would they still stick around when poor results persist, while they have a priority to keep their places in competitive national teams like Brazil and France?

Criticism will come. Rival fans will mock, journalists will write headlines about decline, and pundits will demand change. The hierarchy must treat it as background noise.

Remember, even Arsenal fans trended #ArtetaOut. The club held firm because they had a plan. Five years later, the project speaks for itself, even without titles.

Leaks must also stop. United’s dressing room has been a sieve for years, with tactical plans and transfer targets spilling into the media. Operate tight policies to protect the team.

3. Spend Less on Signings

Throwing money at problems has been United’s default solution for a decade. Since 2013, they have spent over £1.5 billion net on players, more than any club in Europe. Yet they have failed to win the Premier League or set up a team with the potential to do so.

Breaking the world transfer record for Pogba in 2016, spending big on Sancho and Antony, none of it worked. Expensive hasn’t meant effective, especially in rebuilds.

United must build around youth. Garnacho may be gone, but Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo remain, and future windows should focus on young, hungry players who grow with the project.

Control spending relieves pressure from recruits and signals patience rather than desperation. The signing of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo this summer contributes to why fans now demand an instant response from the Portuguese.

He has made that mistake and invited the pressure, but the management should not fall for it. Not at this stage, where he is starting to build an identity.

4. Sign a New Starting Goalkeeper

The goalkeeper situation remains shaky. Onana has been error-prone since joining, his latest mistake gifting Grimsby a goal, which ultimately sends United packing from the Carabao Cup.

His misdeeds didn't only happen on the night. Fans already have lots of memories of his howlers, while his deputy, Altay Bayındır, though given chances, was also at fault against Arsenal.

A reliable goalkeeper changes everything. If United wants to return to a competitive company, it needs an upgrade in this department.

5. Embrace the Poor Results That Will Come

Rebuilds bring defeats. Amorim cannot turn Manchester United into title contenders overnight. The journey will include setbacks, but these must be accepted, not feared.

Do not question him for every bad result. Ferguson endured humiliations, yet still built a dynasty. Losses at Anfield or scrappy draws at home to minors must be seen as steps, not collapses.

As long as Amorim remains committed, the hierarchy must match his belief. Smart summer improvements will matter more than constant overhauls. Patience is a virtue United cannot starve themselves of at this time.

Conclusion | How Rúben Amorim Can Succeed at Old Trafford

Mistakes have been made, even since Amorim’s appointment nine months ago. But Manchester United’s management must own them and take the next step forward.

Sacking Amorim might offer temporary relief, but history proves it only repeats the cycle. The weak solutions of the past cannot continue.

If United embraces these five steps, trusts in Amorim, they won’t just succeed. They will rediscover how to dominate, in England and beyond, as they always dreamed.