Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has promised to stick to his guns and principles after replacing Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford dugout.
Amorim was officially appointed United’s head coach last month from Sporting Lisbon.
The Portuguese tactician has so far overseen three games, winning two and drawing one. His most recent outing was Sunday’s 4-0 demolition of Sean Dyche’s Everton.
Amorim sat down with BBC Sport presenter Mark Chapman and vowed that he will stick to what has made him so successful so far, despite the fact he’s now in one of football’s most scrutinised managerial roles.
The 39-year-old said, “I will be OK. No matter what, in this stage of my life, I’ll be OK, so that’s why I’m relaxed. Everybody says to me, ‘this will change me’. This will not change me.”
“If something happens I will be frustrated for a while but I know I will recover. But I believe that we are going to succeed. I’m ready. When I had this invitation, I felt that it was really hard to leave my players at Sporting. But, when I had this opportunity, I felt I had to do this.”
“Maybe it’s destiny and I will be a little bit lucky in the beginning and then everything is going to be fine.”
Amorim insisted that he already feels a connection with United fans.
“Yes, for sure I feel that, maybe because I am a little bit [of] an emotional person. I can transmit that, even in interviews I think. Maybe because I am different from the last coach and this can bring a different connection with the next guy. I believe that I am the right guy. People always believe the next guy is the right guy. We always have this feeling.”
“To maintain this feeling we have to play better, win games and be really honest with the supporters. If you are honest and direct with the supporters – maybe you don’t always say the popular thing – you create a better connection.”
On whether he has always been emotional, he replied, “Yes, because it is my character. You cannot change. You cannot be one day not emotional and the next day be emotional. I think also with my head, not always with my heart. But when I do things, I do it with emotion.”
“As a coach you can be so good with tactical and technical stuff, but if you are not emotional, you cannot have a connection with players, you cannot do nothing with a football team.”
Chapman asked Amorim to describe what kind of player he was.
The United gaffer responded, “I was a team player. I had a lot of injuries but all the team players say that to excuse some lack of success. I always loved the game and I will always love the tactical aspect of the game.”
“I try to understand things. I played in all positions so I understood the game and tried to help the game in every position and that gave me the knowledge – not just the position – but the understanding. I grew up with not a large family, but a strong family with a lot of emotion. I am a Latin guy, I’m just like that.”
“I like people, I like to bond with people, and I think it’s one of the best things in this job. You can make a lot of friends and still do your job. You can be demanding and still have a connection with everybody.”
Up next for the Red Devils is a Wednesday clash against Arsenal at the Emirates.
Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
