Ruben Amorim is the youngest manager to arrive at Manchester United since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure and that exuberance has transferred to supporters.
From training sessions being scrutinised endlessly to press conferences being awaited like almost a match, it’s been box office for Ruben Amorim.
For his part, he has done all the right things, said all the right things, and laid out a vision and foundation that seems promising for the club.
Now, in a recent press conference, he has made the start in dealing with a big problem at Man Utd which has consumed every manager that has come before him-
Sir Alex Ferguson’s spectre at Man Utd
It is hard (read: impossible) to match Sir Alex Ferguson’s achievements at Old Trafford, especially in the modern era of quick fixes and managerial turnovers.
That is something that has plagued every manager who has followed him at United. Some have chosen to distance themselves while some have embraced his presence.
When they inevitably fail, the latter group has been accused of attaching themselves to history, the former group is accused of not embracing it enough!
Through no fault of his own, Sir Alex’s spectre has arguably become a major problem at United, one which no manager has been able to step out of.
Therefore, it was completely expected that Ruben Amorim would also be faced with the same question when he spoke to the media for the first time.
Just like he has with every other contentious/tricky question, Amorim’s answer was arguably the best of every previous Man Utd manager due to the clarity of his thought.
Ruben Amorim addresses Sir Alex Ferguson question
Amorim was asked if he had got the chance yet to speak to Sir Alex about his position and if he would lean heavily on him to get a feel for the place.
In a departure from managers before him, Amorim was firm and clear in his response which proved that while he recognises the great man’s shadow, he will be his own man.
He said: “I didn’t have that opportunity [to meet him yet] and it is hard to copy someone, I have to be me. I am not the best person in here to share the history of Manchester United. It should be the club first and also me because I am also always paying attention to those details.
“I try to focus my players on the history of the club, not the recent history, so you have to be demanding as this is a club that needs to win. We have to win and we have to show that to our players.
“This is a different time and I cannot be the same guy that Sir Alex Ferguson was. It is a different time and I have to have a different approach. I can also be demanding with a different approach, so that is my focus.”
Amorim’s recognition that it’s a different time and those methods can no longer work with the current crop is pertinent and should help him connect with the players.
So far, he has been extremely accepting of the weight of history while insisting he will be his own man.
As long as he continues to strike that balance, it should be fine. He is off to a good start by addressing a big problem in the form of Sir Alex’s shadow.
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