Amorim ended his tenure as Sporting coach on a high note, with a 4-2 win over Braga, after coming back from 2-0 down.
The new Manchester United manager admits he is under no illusions as to how difficult the job will be but is game for the challenge. The 39-year-old signed off at Sporting Lisbon with a 4-2 victory over former club Braga after bouncing back from 2-0 down.
Amorim is set to touch down in England on Monday, although the PA news agency understands he is still waiting for his work permit to be processed. This means the Portuguese cannot officially start at Old Trafford until he is issued with a visa, which has been the process since the United Kingdom left the European Union.
Amorim has already moved on to the test which lies ahead, having brought his four-year stay at Sporting to an end, although he insists taking charge at one of the world’s biggest clubs will not change him or his style.
“I won’t become a different person. I know I’ll be fine. Whether it’s three months or 10 years, I know I’ll be fine. I’m fully aware of what’s important in life,” he told Sport TV.
“Whatever comes, will come. I really want to win. I’ll be in a better mood if I win, more upset if I lose. I certainly won’t lose my essence, I’d sooner lose my coaching career.
“It’s going to be difficult, I’m not under any illusions. But it’s what it has to be.”
In his post-match press conference, Amorim added: “I feel ready for the new challenge. I’m not naive, I know it’s going to be very different, very difficult.
“I’m at peace now, I can focus on my new job and I’m looking forward to starting tomorrow.
I know it will be difficult to reproduce what I have here anywhere else, but there are other places with different exposure and pressure.
Amorim offered an apology to Sporting fans for leaving them now with the team six points clear at the top of the table.
“I’m sorry for this decision in the middle of the season but I felt it was my time and my path. I need to be fully committed,” he added.
Factoring in United’s difficulties, particularly up front where they have scored just 12 goals in 11 league matches, Amorim was asked whether he would be looking to sign Sporting’s former Coventry striker Viktor Gyokeres, who has 23 goals already this season and has only failed to score in two of his 16 appearances.
“We can’t go somewhere and try to replicate what happened here,” he said. nn “The leagues are different, I’m not there yet. I don’t know what the team needs more. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
He then dropped a big hint that he will be sticking to his 3-4-3 formation when he arrives at Old Trafford, despite concerns he may not have the right players to play the system.
I know how I am going to play in the beginning, because you have to start with a structure that you know.
“Then you will adapt with the players that you have, some injuries, or no injuries, what kind of players have the abilities to defend, attack, I will discover that in the next few weeks.
“We don’t have a lot of time to train, so I have to show something that I know very well. You can take whatever you want from that.”
The Red Devils’ 3-0 Premier League win against Leicester on Sunday signaled the end of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s unbeaten four-match stint as Erik ten Hag’s interim successor.
Van Nistelrooy is currently in limbo as to whether he will be retained as an assistant coach under Amorim, who has already said he wants to take his three current assistants with him as part of his six-person coaching team.
“About a legend of the club. He did a great job. I have to talk with him tomorrow. Then I will explain everything. I am very clear and I will tell you like it is. Let’s wait until tomorrow.”