- Ruben Amorim has delivered his first press conference as Man United manager
- The 39-year-old will look to get off to a winning start when United face Ipswich
- Will Ruben Amorim be Man United's saviour? LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! Available wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes every Monday and Thursday
Ruben Amorim declared himself The Right One as he was officially unveiled as Manchester United’s new head coach.
Amorim revealed that he had a message of support from his Portuguese compatriot Jose Mourinho after deciding to leave Sporting Lisbon and take over at Old Trafford.
Mourinho famously described himself as The Special One when he arrived at Chelsea from FC Porto two decades ago, but 39-year-old Amorim chose a different way to introduce himself.
‘Jose had an influence on all Portuguese coaches not just on me,’ he said. ‘He showed we can be the best in the world, in a small country this can put a stamp. But I’m different to Mourinho. He was a European champion, I’m not. I’m a different guy in a different moment. I’m the right person for this moment.
‘I’m a young guy and I try to use this to help my players as Mourinho did at Chelsea with Lampard and those guys. I’m the right guy for this moment.
‘He sent me a message. He said welcome to the club, it’s a big club and in that he is correct. But a lot of things change. I am a different guy and I hope to teach something to my players. The club is still big, it is still the best in England and we want to win.’
Ruben Amorim has insisted he is the right man to lead Manchester United forward in his first press conference
The 39-year-old also revealed that compatriot Jose Mourinho contacted him to wish him luck at the club
Amorim's first game in charge of United sees them travel to Portman Road to take on Ipswich
Asked if it’s the impossible job. Amorim replied: ‘No, of course not. I believe that. Call me naïve but I truly believe I am the right guy in the right moment.
'I could be wrong but the earth still will turn, the sun will rise again, it doesn’t matter, I’m not worried about that. I truly believe I’m the right guy for this job.
‘I really don’t know the biggest challenge, I will find out during this months. You have here different types of coaches, the guys that won everything like Van Gaal and Mourinho, the new ones that knew the club inside out like Solskjaer, then one of the best outside the top five leagues in Ten Hag.
'We have to improve as a club and acknowledge we have to win games.’
Amorim warned that he will not compromise on his 3-4-3 formation and playing style, insisting that the players will have to follow his way. He highlighted some of the shortcomings in the squad, including issues over tracking back which is central to his philosophy.
‘As a coach you have to choose one way or another,’ he added. ‘I choose always 100 per cent our way. I choose to risk a bit. I believe so much in our way of playing, they (the players) will believe too. There is no second way.
‘We will adapt some players because we don’t have a different profile. Maybe on Sunday (at Ipswich) you will see the starting 11 and not feel a lot of change, but you will see it in the game and the positioning or where they receive the ball.
‘It is not revolution. Football is not so different with three players at the back, four or five. We will play a different type of football. We have our ideas. It is our way of seeing football.
‘We have space to grow as a team. I think we have to improve in a lot of areas, the understanding of the game. It is a different way of playing and we are changing in the middle of the season.
Erik ten Hag was despatched after defeat to West Ham after a tumultuous start to the season
The Red Devils will hope for a quick turnaround under Amorim as they sit 13th in the league
‘I think we have to improve the physical aspect of the team. I don’t know how long it will take. I know if you are at Manchester United you have to win games, so I will not tell you I need a lot of time. It is a great league, the strongest in the world and we have to improve a lot.
‘In simple things, I think, if you want to speak about the team, I think we lose the ball too often. We have to be better at running back, I think that is clear to everyone and I think we have to be better on the details. We have to improve on the small things. In the small things, I think I can help a lot.’
Amorim also said that he expects to have the final say on transfers even though the perception of appointing him head coach rather than manager hinted at him having less influence over new signings rather than more.
‘I think it has to be all together because if you are a coach coming here and already chose the players, you could be wrong because the club will be here for a long time and you as a coach, you don’t know that,’ he said.
‘We have to improve the process of recruitment, the data. I think it is all together, but the final word should be the manager, not because it is your right but because it is your responsibility. I have to understand the league and then when everything is aligned, everyone is on the same page, we can buy and sell players.’
Pressed if it has been agreed with the United hierarchy that he would have the final say, Amorim replied: ‘It is not the final, but I have a great responsibility when we choose the players.’
