Manchester United’s new head coach Ruben Amorim has been speaking to the media for the first time since his appointment.
Erik ten Hag was sacked by Manchester United with the Red Devils sat in 14th place in the Premier League and Ineos decided that Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim was the man for them.
Amorim was pictured meeting some of United’s stars this week and the Portuguese tactician has now been speaking to the in-house media ahead of his first match.
The first five games for Amorim are certainly not going to be easy for the former SL Benfica midfielder but he seems ready for the challenge. Here are five things we learned from his first interview.
Ruben Amorim will be loyal to his game model
If there was any doubt before his first interview at Old Trafford that Amorim would not do things his way, surely those fears have been allayed.
United represents Amorim’s first job outside of England and you’d be forgiven for assuming he would be influenced by others around him but that does not appear to be the case.
“The most important thing for me is identity,” Amorim said. “So since day one we will start with our identity. Of course we are going to prepare the games, but we will focus a lot in our game model.
“How to play, how to press, these small things, small details. You cannot go 100% on every detail because it will be confusing for the players. So if I have to say one thing, my main goal, my first goal, is identity.”
Ruben Amorim appreciates Manchester United’s history
Despite having no experience of the Premier League as a player or a head coach, it is clear that the 38-year-old appreciates United’s history.
“Should history inspire the team? For sure. We are Manchester United. A long time we don’t win the Premier League, but if you ask… Manchester United is the biggest club in England.
“This is part of the history, not now. We have to address that and try to win again.”
Ruben Amorim will bring through young players at United
During Amorim’s spell at Sporting Lisbon, the Portuguese head coach was known for bringing academy prospects into the first team.
With so many promising talents like Chido Obi-Martin, Jayce Fitzgerald and Bendito Mantato hoping to break through, it appears that Amorim will give these academy prospects chances to impress.
“I don’t want to say that we need time because we are a young team,” Amorim insisted. “They are prepared. They are prepared to cope with the demands of playing for Manchester United – they should be because they are here.”
Ruben Amorim will be popular amongst the Manchester United fanbase
Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired from United back in 2013, every single permanent managerial appointment has been given vociferous backing from the Old Trafford support.
This trend is set to continue under Amorim with the Portuguese head coach meeting a select few on a tour of Old Trafford earlier this week and making a big impact amongst these supporters.
“First of all, I felt the connection with the club, with the people in the club. That is very important for me,” Amorim said.
“The second point is the history of the club. We can be part of something special… that is something I really like.”
Ruben Amorim will work well with the Ineos hierarchy
Amorim was pictured with Dan Ashworth and Omar Berrada when he visited Carrington and it appears the head coach will have a fruitful relationship with the Ineos hierarchy.
Speaking to the United media team, Amorim made it clear that Berrads’s words appealed to him and convinced him to move to Old Trafford.
“When Man United talked to me, Omar Berrada told me about their plans… you get excited,” Amorim claimed. “It’s a real honour, because I was the first choice to start that path. So it’s a great responsibility. But you feel honoured and excited to be part of that…”
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