“NOT BAD AT ALL” — AMORIM’S MAN UNITED TOP THE PREMIER LEAGUE ATTACKING METRICS
The headlines are starting to sound confident, bordering on impressed. Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United sit first in the Premier League’s key attacking metrics, and suddenly the narrative has shifted from patience to proof. The numbers are bold, the message clearer still: this is a United side creating more than anyone else in the league.
Top of the table for expected goals (29.85).
First for shots per game (16.1).
First again for shots on target per game (5.5).
And leading the way in chances created per game (12.1).
For a club long accused of lacking identity, the data paints a striking picture. Under Amorim, United are not just playing more football — they are playing purposeful football.
“United Lead the League Where It Matters,” read one headline.
“Process Before Perfection,” read another.
The emphasis has been unmistakable. Amorim’s system prioritises structure, spacing, and relentless pressure in the final third. The ball moves quicker. The distances between lines are shorter. Attacks arrive in waves rather than bursts. United are no longer relying on isolated brilliance alone; they are manufacturing volume.
Expected goals tell the deeper story. At 29.85 xG, United aren’t living off low-probability moments or wonder strikes. They are repeatedly finding high-quality shooting positions, forcing defences into sustained stress. The shots per game figure reinforces it — this is a side that keeps knocking, confident that numbers eventually break doors down.
Pundits have noticed the contrast. Previous United teams often felt reactive, waiting for moments. Amorim’s version is proactive, demanding territory and possession higher up the pitch. Shots on target per game (5.5) reflects efficiency layered on top of volume — not just shooting often, but shooting well.
The chances created per game (12.1) stat may be the most telling of all. It speaks to creativity shared across the team rather than funnelled through one player. Full-backs, midfielders, wide forwards — all are involved. It’s a sign of coaching clarity rather than individual improvisation.
“This Is an Amorim Team,” one analysis headline declared.
Still, headlines also carry caution. Metrics don’t award trophies. Conversion, game management, and defensive balance remain under scrutiny. But even sceptics admit the foundation is visible. For the first time in seasons, United’s attacking output is not theoretical — it’s measurable, repeatable, and league-leading.
Fans, too, have leaned into the optimism. Social media buzzed with variations of the same phrase: “The ideas are working.” The numbers provide reassurance during moments when results may fluctuate. They suggest sustainability rather than luck.
Amorim himself has kept responses measured, pointing back to training standards and execution. But the league table of attacking metrics does the talking. First place across four major categories is not coincidence — it’s design.
“Not Bad,” the original headline joked.
But beneath the understatement lies a stronger implication.
Manchester United are no longer searching for an attacking identity.
They’ve found one — and right now, statistically, it’s the Premier League’s best.
