Former Tottenham and Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has raised some important questions awaiting Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford.
Ruben Amorim’s tenure at Sporting CP will come to an end later this week and the 39-year-old Portuguese manager will arrive at Old Trafford on 11th November.
The Sporting CP head coach agreed a deal to become the new Manchester United manager last week after the sacking of former Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag.
United triggered the £9.25m release clause in the contract of Amorim, who has been widely hailed for his transformative work at Primeira Liga outfit Sporting CP.
Ruud van Nistelrooy has been serving as interim manager after Erik ten Hag was axed from Old Trafford and will step down from his post later this week.
The 48-year-old United legend, who was an assistant manager under Ten Hag, will lead the club for the final time as interim manager against Leicester City on Sunday.
Berbatov on Man Utd’s appointment of Amorim
Ruben Amorim will take charge of Manchester United until June 2027, with the Portuguese manager’s contract including a one-year extension option.
The incoming United manager has led Sporting CP to two Primeira Liga titles and two Portuguese League Cups during his successful spell at the Lisbon-based club.
Amorim signed off Sporting CP’s Champions League campaign on Tuesday with a stunning 4-1 demolition win over Manchester City at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Speaking to The Daily Mirror, Dimitar Berbatov praised Amorim’s sensational work at Sporting CP and the soon-to-be United manager’s “winning mentality.”
However, the 43-year-old Bulgarian former striker insisted that Portugal’s top-flight domestic league can’t be compared with the quality of the Premier League.
“I think that, based on what he achieved in Portugal, I think winning the two titles and the cup as well, based on all this it’s a good appointment,” Berbatov said.
“He’s a manager that obviously has a winning mentality.
“On the other hand, the Portuguese league, we cannot compare it to the Premier League because the Premier League is one of, if not the, best in the world.
“So now, it’s going to be a big change for him coming to United, where normally you have big players, which means big egos. So now you need to know how to manage them.”
Berbatov’s big question mark for Amorim
Amorim has been widely tipped to shake up United’s playing style after his arrival at Old Trafford at the start of the November international break.
The incoming United head coach has implemented a three-man backline at Sporting CP and Amorim is expected to use a 3-4-3 or a 3-4-2-1 formation at the Red Devils.
Berbatov has raised his concerns over whether or not the current crop of United first-team players are able to fit into Amorim’s system.
The United cult hero told the newspaper: “You need to know at first are these players going to fit your system of playing, which normally is 3-4-3 for him – are they good enough to fit that system?
“Do you need to change your system to fit the players that you have until you get other players who are going to be good enough for your system?
“So, a lot of questions there for him to be ready to answer, and everybody is probably waiting eagerly for him to get the first game in charge.”
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