"I know it's going to be very different, very difficult" - Ruben Amorim explains the first challenge he faces as Manchester United head coach
Ruben Amorim has opened up about the challenges he is set to face as Manchester United's new head coach. He pointed out that he will be starting mid-season, which would be difficult in terms of training and building a structure.
The Red Devils appointed Amorim as their new head coach after sacking Erik ten Hag on October 28. The Portuguese stayed in charge of Sporting CP until November 10, when his side beat Braga 4-2 away from home in the Liga Portugal. He will now start work at Manchester United during the ongoing international break.
After the win over Braga, Amorim shared his thoughts on the challenges he will face at Old Trafford, saying (via Mirror):
"I feel ready for the new challenge. I'm not naive, I know it's going to be very different, very difficult. I'm at peace now, I can focus on my new job and I'm looking forward to starting tomorrow."
"I know it will be difficult to reproduce what I have here elsewhere, but there are other places with different exposure and pressure ... It's been a fantastic adventure I apologise for this mid-season decision, but I felt it was my time and my way.
“I know how I am going to play in the beginning because you have to start with a structure that you know. We don’t have a lot of time to train, so I have to show something that I know very well.”
In the first week at Manchester United, Amorim will be without key players like Bruno Fernandes, and Andre Onana as they travel to their respective national teams.
Ruud van Nistelrooy reflects on his time as Manchester United's interim manager
Following Erik ten Hag's sacking, his assistant manager and Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy was appointed as the interim manager. He remained unbeaten in his four games in charge with three wins and one draw. They beat Leicester City in the EFL Cup Round of 16, drew against Chelsea in the league, and beat PAOK in the UEFA Europa League.
In his final game in charge, Manchester United beat Leicester City 3-0 at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday, November 10. After the game, Van Nistelrooy said (via Mirror):
"I could see the players were fighting themselves through the game in the end. There were some good bits. We scored two great goals and the own goal was a good attack as well. I agree it's an important three points. The most important was the league position, which needed to be improved. It was a very good performance and we could not have done better. It was a professional performance and a great closure of the four games.
"What we try to do is obviously try to stabilise, after a very difficult, emotional period. It's about believing in themselves and, look, the only way is up. It's where we want to go, as a club and as a team, to get results going and build on it.
"I wanted to bring United into a better place. It was my absolute goal, together with the players, and it's three wins and a draw. Getting 11 goals at Old Trafford, and only three against, is the standard you want to go to as a club. I think it's something to build on."
Manchester United are 13th in the Premier League, four points behind fourth-placed Arsenal. They are 15th in the Europa League, three points behind the qualification spots.