In another world, there could have been a different Portuguese manager preparing to take charge of Manchester United away at Ipswich Town this weekend.
While Ruben Amorim settles into life at Old Trafford, it’s fair to say the man who guided Sporting Lisbon to two Primeira Liga titles in three years was not the only coach who held talks with Ineos as the pressure ramped up on Erik ten Hag.
Thomas Tuchel’s agent confirmed talks with Man United nearly resulted in the German putting pen to paper. Stuttgart boss Sebastian Hoeness rejected the Red Devils in order to finish what he started at the Bundesliga overachievers.
Manchester United reportedly had discussions with Roberto de Zerbi, Roberto Martinez and Thomas Frank, too, per The Athletic.
Ditto Marco Silva, the Fulham boss who has emphatically revived a career that looked to be on a downward spiral following a disappointing end to his Everton tenure.
Marco Silva congratulates Ruben Amorim on Manchester United move
According to The Mail, Sir Jim Ratcliffe initially wanted to replace Ten Hag with a manager who had Premier League experience on his CV. And, alongside Brentford icon Frank, Marco Silva featured pretty prominently in United’s thinking for a time.
But with Omar Berrada and Dan Ashworth putting their faith in Ruben Amorim, Marco Silva will instead be watching on from afar as his fellow Iberian looks to finally revive Manchester United’s fortunes.
“Firstly, he is a very good manager,” says Silva, who won a Portuguese cup during his own spell in the Sporting dugout in 2014/15. “I think it is a great challenge for him and he is more than ready for it.
“Of course, I have already spoken with him. What I wish for him is always the best.”
Speaking to the media for the first time as the Red Devils’ head coach on Friday, Ruben Amorim spelled out his demands for those Man United players. Hard work, he says, is a non-negotiable. Everyone in that iconic shirt must buy into his ideas too, with Amorim very much embracing the ‘my way or the proverbial highway’ approach.
Ruben Amorim tells Man United stars what he needs from them
“When I start this week, you can say it’s just one week and three training sessions, but [the players] are open to different things,” Amorim smiles.
“The only thing I ask of them is hard work and that you have to believe in the ideas.”
Amorim wants his United side to play with an intensity often lacking under Ten Hag, too.
“I think we have to improve the physical aspect of the team,” Amorim adds. “I don’t know how long it will take. I know if you are in United you have to win games, so I will not tell you I need a lot of time.
“We need to be better running back and I think that’s clear for everybody. We have to be clear in the small details.
“We have space to grow as a team, and we need to improve in a lot of areas. We are changing in the middle of the season with a different way of playing. We need to improve the physical aspect of the team.”
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