Ruben Amorim’s arrival at Old Trofford has brought along with him not only a fresh breath of renewed hope but also some home truths about how the players and ex-managers have dealt with the pressure of trying to replicate Sir Alex Ferguson’s success.
Ruben Amorim has told his Mancester United players that they’ve been “living in Sir Alex Ferguson’s shadow” as they struggle to replicate his success after he arrived at the club last week and proceeded to put his players through their paces since Monday. And he’s not held back from delivering some home truths to a squad that currently languish in the bottom half of the table.
Long rated as one of Europe’s best young managers following his success with Sporting, where he won two league titles, Amorim has quickly made a great impression on the players at Old Trafford, who have been “blown away” by his immediate impact with “Mourinho-style confidence” on show, The Sun reports.
The 39-year-old had once attended Carrington to do a week’s internship under the Special One, Jose Mourinho – who was also one of those who tried but failed replicate Ferguson’s magic. The legendary Scot was the last man to deliver a Premier League title for the club. and that was in 2013, and Amorim believes the former mnagers hadn’t used his spirit as a driving force.
A source said: “He told them that top managers have not replicated Sir Alex’s success because they have lived in his shadow, rather than getting their team to play with his spirit. Even before Monday’s first session, the players have been very impressed.
“Then, after the sessions, they are blown away by his energy, approach and confidence. There’s definite Mourinho vibes in the way he speaks and his self belief – but the style is his own. The players think he’s very approachable and that he will understand them. Some of them are calling him Mourinho 2.0.”
Amorim himself has been quick in the past to dismiss comparisons with Mourinho. The Special One, now at Fenerbahce, was in charge in Manchester for just over two years but is the only man post-Ferguson to register 80 points in a season as he finished second in 2017/18.
Amorim this week began working on Monday with a depleted squad with the likes of Marcus Rashford, Mason Mount and Amad Diallo, as a number of stars are still away on international duty. He made up for the lack in numbers by supplementing the sessions with academy players.
The source added: “He told the ones he’s seen so far that the talent in the squad is unbelievable – but they need to start playing as a team.”
Amorim’s first game in charge kicks off this Sunday when he takes United to Portman Road to take on Ipswich Town.
Anticipation will be riding high on his anticipated team line-up – with the new manager having his own ideas on the players – whilst he’s also expected to introduce the 3-4-3 system he used in Lisbon.