- Amorim was appointed more than a week ago, but will start work early next week
- United players have reacted to news as they prepare to work with him
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Manchester United players are optimistic about what they can achieve before Ruben Amorim takes over, according to a report.
Amorim has been confirmed as the Red Devils’ new head coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract, replacing Erik ten Hag. He will officially start work on Monday after a notice period at Sporting Lisbon.
He has work to do at Old Trafford, where United are in thirteenth place in the Premier League after ten games played. He is still struggling in Europe, despite winning a European competition for the first time in more than a year on Thursday.
But there is a foundation to work on, with Amorim having an impressive CV despite being under 40 years old and having only coached in Portugal.
According to Manchester Evening NewsHowever, United’s players are said to be impressed with what he has achieved at Sporting Lisbon and are looking forward to working with him.
Manchester United players are reportedly optimistic about the appointment of Ruben Amorim
Amorim will join the United squad on Monday after serving his notice period at Sporting Lisbon
He took charge of his final home game on Tuesday, beating future rivals Manchester City 4-1
United host Leicester in the Premier League this weekend in their final match under interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is said to have had an ‘outstanding’ impact since taking over.
The Dutchman has recorded two wins and a draw in his three games and has made known his desire to remain as coach under Amorim.
However, it seems increasingly unlikely that will be the case with the striker revealing on Friday his ambitions to one day become United manager.
Nevertheless, players are said to be hopeful of a successful season under Amorim’s leadership despite their difficult start to the season.
Amorim has won two league titles in four years with Sporting, including the club’s first in 19 years when he led them to the league title in 2020.
They are also top of the Liga Portugal this season, with ten wins from as many games, scoring 35 goals and conceding just three.
The club are second in the Champions League and will play their last match under Amorim this weekend, away to Braga.
They played their last home game under the Portuguese on Tuesday – a 4-1 thrashing of Manchester City – in which the new United boss was thrown into the air by his players.
United players are said to be impressed by his work at Sporting and will be hoping for a successful season
They would also have welcomed the work of interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy
Following United’s 2-0 win over PAOK in the Europa League on Thursday, Van Nistelrooy revealed he had still not spoken to Amorim following his appointment.
“Ruben is concentrating on Braga and I am concentrating on Leicester,” he said. ‘That’s a good one for now and it shows that we are focused on the daily work and getting the most out of the team.
‘Let him concentrate on Braga and I on Leicester, then we’ll see. I have to check my phone now [to see if he has messaged]…I will do that later.”