"This is a good, exciting acquisition" - Frank Lampard gives take on Manchester United's incoming head coach Ruben Amorim
Former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has given his verdict on Manchester United's decision to appoint Ruben Amorim as their new head coach. The Red Devils recently announced the appointment of the Sporting CP boss, who is set to join the club on November 11.
Manchester United sacked manager Erik ten Hag after his side struggled to get into the top half of the 2023-24 Premier League season. Ten Hag was sacked in the immediate aftermath of his side's 2-1 defeat to West Ham last weekend, with Ruud van Nistelrooy taking interim charge.
The Red Devils decided to move forward with Ruben Amorim, paying his €10 million release clause to prise him away from Sporting. Frank Lampard spoke on Sky Sports about the appointment of the 39-year-old, describing it as exciting.
"I think this is a good, exciting acquisition but he needs to have the support, he needs to have that time, he needs to go 'this is how I want it to be' because nobody knows what Manchester United are anymore," he said.
Ruben Amorim will arrive in England with a big reputation, having been reportedly courted by multiple Premier League clubs. The Portuguese tactician was said to have held talks with West Ham United in the closing weeks of the 2023-24 season before eventually deciding against joining them.
He was also linked with Manchester City as a potential replacement for Pep Guardiola after the English champions appointed Sporting CP director Hugo Viana as their next Sporting Director. Liverpool also reportedly held talks with the Portuguese before appointing Arne Slot.
Amorim's Sporting side are currently top of the Portuguese league with a perfect ten wins from ten games to start the season.
Manchester United without Christian Eriksen for Chelsea clash
Manchester United are without midfielder Christian Eriksen for their league clash against Chelsea on Sunday, November 3. The Red Devils are keen to build on an impressive 5-2 midweek win over Leicester City against a side that has not defeated them at Old Trafford since 2013.
Interim head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy has named his squad for the game, with Eriksen missing out through injury. The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder last featured for the side in their defeat against West Ham United in October, starting the game before his substitution in the second half.
Christian Eriksen has featured 11 times for the Red Devils this season, scoring four goals. The 32-year-old will be a big miss for the side, with 17-year-old Jayce Jayce Fitzgerald named on the bench in his absence.