Well, no one could accuse Ruben Amorim of walking into Manchester United unprepared for the expectations that will come his way.
This might be a club now 11 years out from their last Premier League trophy and 16 years on from that Champions League triumph on a drizzling night in Moscow.
But while Manchester United’s results over the last year or so paint the picture of a mid-table outfit – eighth last term and sitting 13th so far this – there is no desire from anyone at Old Trafford to continue middling around in mediocrity.
The good news is that Ruben Amorim, the club’s sixth permanent head coach since Sir Alex Ferguson walked off into the sunset back in 2013, has a history when it comes to shaking sleeping giants from their slumber.
After Amorim guided Braga to their first piece of silverware in four years, he then dragged Sporting to the summit of Portuguese football for the first time since 2003. Repeating the trick last season, Amorim has six trophies in just five years of management.
And, while taking in the sights of Old Trafford on Tuesday evening, Ineos’ ‘chosen one’ made it clear that he understands the challenge put to him in the Man United dugout.
Ruben Amorim speaks during Manchester United unveiling
“We have to win,” Amorim said. “We all know that.”
Amorim made his first visit to Man United’s historic stadium this week, though he will have to wait until November 28th and the visit of Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League to lead the Red Devils out at Old Trafford for the first time.
Amorim’s maiden United appearance will come away to Ipswich Town – Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town – four days earlier.
And, a relic of happier times at United, Nemanja Vidic hopes to see his beloved old employers benefit from an extended case of ‘new manager bounce’.
“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.”
Omar Berrada ‘excited’ as Ruben Amorim arrives at Old Trafford
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Dan Ashworth and Omar Berrada certainly seem to think he is. ‘The right fit’, that is.
Manchester United held talks with a host of managers over the summer – the Red Devils negotiated with Thomas Tuchel as well as Roberto de Zerbi, Thomas Frank, Marco Silva and more – but quickly shifted their focus to Ruben Amorim once Erik ten Hag’s position became untenable.
“I am very excited about the arrival of Ruben Amorim,” said Berrada, Man United’s chief executive officer.
“We really believe that he will integrate into the rest of the structure so that we can be successful on the pitch.”
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