Ruben Amorim has expressed his pride and excitement after his first week as Manchester United’s new manager, saying he feels he is “where I’m supposed to be.”
The Portuguese coach took over from Erik ten Hag, who was sacked after a poor start to the season, and officially began his tenure at United’s Carrington training ground on Monday. Amorim joined from Sporting Lisbon, having guided the team to a 4-2 victory in his final match in charge.
In a short interview clip released by Manchester United, Amorim reflected on the significance of taking the reins at Old Trafford.
Standing under the iconic floodlights of Old Trafford, Amorim said:
“You watch on TV and you know that it’s big and it’s impressive, but when you are here you can feel it and I think you feel the history,”
When asked about the weight of expectation, the 38-year-old admitted he felt calm rather than burdened.
Amorim’s first match in charge will be away to Ipswich Town on November 24 after the international break. United are currently 13th in the Premier League table, but with only four points separating them from the top four, Amorim faces an uphill yet achievable task to revive the club’s fortunes.
Meanwhile, former interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, who briefly took charge after Ten Hag’s dismissal, has bid farewell to the club. The Dutchman, who had joined United as an assistant coach in July, had expressed hope to remain under Amorim’s leadership.
However, the club confirmed on Monday that the 48-year-old would not be part of the new coaching set-up. In an emotional statement, van Nistelrooy thanked United for the opportunity to serve both as a coach and a player.
