Ruben Amorim thinks he knows what to expect from the English media.
The Sporting Lisbon coach will be arriving at Manchester United on November 11, attempting to turn around a club that has been struggling for consistency since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013.
The 39-year-old replaces the sacked Erik ten Hag and will be the tenth different manager of the Red Devils in 11 years, but there’s hope he may finally be the right one.
With a stunning CV and having been the first non-Glazer family appointment this century, Amorim could succeed where others fail, but he’s well aware that he’s going to be judged quickly.
Staying in post until the international break on November 11, Amorim has a chance to impress when Sporting face Manchester City in the Champions League.
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Plenty of English eyes will be on that match-up, and the Portuguese thinks extreme conclusions will be drawn no matter what happens.
“The focus is on winning the game for Sporting, after that, the inferences that people will draw from this game are not important to me because they could be misleading,” he said.
“If the result is negative, expectations will drop; if we win they will think that the new Alex Ferguson has arrived (laughs).
“What interests me is to win, a good farewell in Alvalade, win in Braga and start a new adventure in Manchester.
“What I want is to leave the fans and my players happy for what is to come in the new season.”
Amorim’s press conference unsurprisingly included plenty of questions about United, but he made sure to establish where his thoughts currently are.
When it was put to him again that United fans will be watching the clash against City, he said: “I’m not thinking about that. Tomorrow I will be Sporting’s coach and only Sporting’s, from the 11th onwards I will be United’s coach.
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“I know they will draw conclusions from this result, but I don’t care much, I’m Sporting’s coach.
“I understand the interest, but for me it’s just another game against a team from the best league in the world.”
Amorim isn’t the only person at Sporting keen to not think about United, with club captain Morten Hjulmand already thinking past the Manchester side poaching their coach.
Asked how challenging the departure will be, he replied: “It’s a challenge to win the championship without him, that’s the main thing this season.
“Life goes on and we want to show that we no longer need him.”
