Ruben Amorim vows to put Manchester United back 'in the place where it belongs'

Newly-appointed manager Ruben Amorim vowed to take Manchester United back to the top of English football after assuming charge of the struggling Premier League giants, adding that he would give “everything” in doing so. Amorim, who replaces the sacked Erik ten Hag in the role, arrived at United’s Carrington training complex on Monday after guiding Sporting CP to a 4-2 victory over Braga in his final game in charge of the Portuguese club.

Four days after his arrival in Manchester, the club released a video of Amorim’s first interview with the club’s in-house TV channel.

“I will try to do everything to put this club in the place that it belongs,” he said.

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“And I believe a lot that we are going to succeed.”

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United are 13th in the Premier League table after a poor start to the season but are only four points off the top four.

Amorim’s first match in charge will be away at struggling Ipswich on November 24, following the international break.

Goosebumps.

Watch Ruben's first interview as head coach in full now ⬇️#MUFC

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 16, 2024

United finished eighth in the Premier League last season, their worst league finish since the 1989-90 campaign.

“We know that we need time, but we have to win time,” added Amorim. “To win time is to win games. But the most important thing for me is identity.

“Since day one we will start with our identity. Of course we are going to prepare (for) the games, but we will focus a lot on our game model. How to play, how to press, these small details.

“You cannot go 100 percent on every detail because it will be confusing for the players. So if I have to say one thing, my main goal, my first goal, is identity.”

‘Feel the history’

Amorim led Sporting to their first Portuguese league title in 19 years in 2021, before regaining the trophy last season.

He left the capital club top of the Primeira Liga with a 100-percent record after 11 games and also second in the Champions League standings.

Also Read | What is Amorim's managerial record? What will United's playing style be like under him?

Manchester United won the last of their record 20 English league titles in Alex Ferguson’s last season in charge in 2013.

Told by the interviewer that there is a “weight to the place but it does lift you up”, Amorim added: “That’s really funny because I feel very relaxed.”

“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,” he said.

“I’m really, really proud to be a Manchester United coach, so it’s amazing. It’s a real honour to be here.”

Also Read | United players eager to learn from Amorim, says midfielder Casemiro

Ruud van Nistelrooy, put in temporary charge of United after Ten Hag’s dismissal, on Friday issued an emotional farewell message to the club, where he also starred as a striker.

The former PSV Eindhoven boss, appointed as an assistant coach in July on a two-year contract, had voiced a desire to stay at Old Trafford under Amorim.

But United issued a statement on Monday confirming the 48-year-old would not be part of the new coaching set-up.

With AFP inputs