Manchester United legend Nemanja Vidic cannot claim to be an expert about all things Ruben Amorim.
But as Erik ten Hag’s replacement arrived at Carrington this week – embracing Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and co while promising to bring the ‘fun’ back to Old Trafford – there is a sense of excitement bubbling away under the surface for the first time in a while.
Because, while Ruben Amorim was far from a household name before getting the Manchester United gig, his track record back home in Portugal speaks for itself.
The ‘special’ and ‘unique’ Amorim guided Braga to their first trophy in four years. He then took over Sporting – the Lisbon giants making him Portugal’s most expensive-ever manager on the back of four excellent months at Braga – and ended their two decade-long wait for domestic honours.
In fact, during just five years in management, Amorim already has six pieces of silverware to his name.
And that ‘winning mentality’, as Nemanja Vidic describes it, can only stand the 39-year-old in good stead as he looks to shake another underachieving powerhouse from their slumber.
Nemanja Vidic shares first impression of new Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim
“I don’t know much about him. [But] obviously, I know he was very successful at Sporting Lisbon,” Vidic tells Sky Sports. “He seems like a very positive guy and I think he has a winning mentality.
“He played at a top level. He was a decent player. He has a good background. But, for me, what managers and coaches need in the modern game is, first of all, good recruitment, and an ability to deal with the players, media, and even with the people in the club.
“I hope that he is the right fit for the club.”
The manner in which Ruben Amorim swatted off a few rather bizarre questions from one particularly persnickety reporter last week certainly stands him in good stead as he prepares to take on arguably the most high-pressure job in the sport.
Amorim will also be under pressure to harness the potential of a gifted squad, but one that sits 13th in the Premier League table with as many wins as defeats.
Vidic divided on Erik ten Hag’s Man United departure
Man United cruised past Leicester City last time out – Ruud van Nistelrooy’s final game in temporary charge – but that still was not enough to lift the Red Devils into the top half.
“It’s difficult to say whether [sacking Ten Hag] was right or not,” Vidic adds. “Definitely we have to say that Erik ten Hag got support from the club over the years. The club invested a lot of money in the philosophy of Ten Hag.
“But, if you look at the results, my expectation and the expectation of the fans was much higher.
“I’m not sure it was just a problem with the coach. I think we have to look at the bigger picture. Other things need to be right to help the coach perform and give the best of his ability.
“Sometimes, you don’t need the best player in the world to play for your club, but you need the right character.
“If you want to play for the big clubs, competing for the trophies, you have to be consistent. And that’s not just down to quality, it’s down to mentality. That’s the key for me.”
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