Ruben Amorim declared himself The Right One as he was officially unveiled as the new head coach of Manchester United.
Amorim confirmed he had contacted former United manager Jose Mourinho before deciding to leave Sporting Lisbon and become the sixth permanent boss at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson.
Mourinho famously described himself as The Special One when he joined Chelsea from FC Porto in 2004, but 39-year-old Amorim chose a different way to introduce himself.
“Jose had an influence on all Portuguese coaches, not just me,” he said. ‘He showed that we can be the best in the world, and in a small country that can leave a mark. But I am different from Mourinho. He was European champion, I was not. I am a different man at a different time. I’m the right person for this moment.
‘I’m a young guy and I’m trying to use this to help my players, like Mourinho did at Chelsea with Lampard and those boys. I’m the right man for this moment.
‘He sent me a message. He said welcome to the club, it is a big club and he is right. But many things are changing. I’m a different guy and I hope to teach my players something. The club is still big, it’s still the best in England and we want to win.’
Ruben Amorim has emphasized in his first press conference that he is the right man to lead Manchester United forward
The 39-year-old also revealed that compatriot Jose Mourinho contacted him to wish him the best of luck at the club
In Amorim’s first match in charge of United, they travel to Portman Road to take on Ipswich
Asked if it is the impossible job. Amorim replied, “No, of course not. I believe that. Call me naive, but I truly believe I am the right man at the right time.
“I could be wrong, but the earth will still turn, the sun will rise again, it doesn’t matter, I don’t worry about that. I truly believe I am the right man for this job.
‘I really don’t know what the biggest challenge is, I will discover that over the course of these months. You have different types of coaches here, the guys who won everything like Van Gaal and Mourinho, the newcomers who knew the club inside and out like Solskjaer, and then one of the best outside the top five of Ten Hag.
‘We have to improve as a club and recognize that we have to win games.’
Amorim warned that he will not compromise on his 3-4-3 formation and playing style, stressing that the players will have to follow his path. He highlighted some shortcomings in the squad, including problems with tracking back, which is central to his philosophy.
“As a coach you have to choose one way or another,” he added. ‘I always choose our way 100 percent. I choose to take a little risk. I believe so much in our way of playing that they (the players) will believe it too. There is no second way.
‘We will adjust some players because we do not have a different profile. You may see the starting XI on Sunday (at Ipswich) and not feel much change, but you will see it in the play and the positioning or where they receive the ball.
‘It’s not a revolution. Football is not that different with three players at the back, four or five. We are going to play a different kind of football. We have our ideas. It’s our way of watching football.
‘We have room to grow as a team. I think we need to improve the understanding of the game in many areas. It’s a different way of playing and we change halfway through the season.
Erik ten Hag was sent off following a defeat to West Ham after a tumultuous start to the season
The Red Devils will be hoping for a quick turnaround under Amorim as they sit 13th in the league
‘I think we need to improve the physical aspect of the team. I don’t know how long it will last. I know that when you play for Manchester United you have to win games, so I won’t tell you that I need a lot of time. It’s a great competition, the strongest in the world and we still have a lot to improve.
‘In simple things I think: if you want to talk about the team, I think we lose the ball too often. We have to be better at running backs, I think that’s clear to everyone and I think we have to be better at the details. We have to improve the little things. I think I can help a lot in the little things.’
Amorim also said he expects to have the final say on transfers, although the perception that he would become head coach rather than manager suggested he had less influence over new signings rather than more.
‘I think it all has to be together because if you come here as a coach and you have already chosen the players, you could be wrong because the club will be here for a long time and you as a coach don’t know that. he said.
‘We need to improve the recruitment process, the data. I think it’s all right, but the final word should be up to the manager, not because it’s your right, but because it’s your responsibility. I have to understand the league and when everything is aligned, everyone is on the same page, we can buy and sell players.”
When it was agreed with the United hierarchy that he would have the final say, Amorim replied: “It’s not the final, but I have a big responsibility in choosing the players.”