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Manchester United might be headed towards a golden era under Ruben Amorim if the opinions of former players about the club’s new manager are to be believed.
Speaking to The Athletic, Tiago Tomas was full of praise for Amorim, having worked with the Portuguese manager during their time together at Sporting CP.
“Sometimes, he would almost feel like a big brother. He had all the respect you should have for a coach, but you had a connection with him; you felt you could talk to him about anything,” Tomas observed. Just 17 years of age when he arrived at Sporting in 2020, Tomas’ talent was spotted by Amorim, who decided to hand the teenager the chance to feature in Sporting’s run to the 2020-21 Primeira Liga title, their first in 19 years.
“His relationship and how he connects with his players is what makes the biggest difference,” Tomas concluded. “When you have the trust of the coach, it gives you freedom — you’re not worried about having to perform. You have to perform, but he gives you a tranquillity and team spirit that I’d never felt before.”
Prior to arriving at Sporting, Amorim managed fellow Primeira Liga club SC Braga, a club with whom he achieved a hugely impressive 77% win rate.
Fransergio, a midfielder in Amorim’s Braga team, spoke of the care that Amorim exhibited for each of his players, truly aimed at safeguarding their wellbeing.
“He’s very calm, and he’s someone who sees everyone not only as professionals but also as human beings,” Fransergio explained. “He would often inquire about our families; he would check on how foreign players were adjusting to life in Portugal.”
Perhaps no other player is more familiar with Amorim’s recent successes than Sporting captain Morten Hjulmand. “Mister Amorim makes things very clear to the players. About his vision, about the game, about how he sees your character and how you can improve. He is very good at knowing how he can make his players better. How he needs to treat one player and another player differently,” Hjulmand explained.
One of United’s top transfer targets at present, star Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres, also weighed in. “He always wants to make sure that everything is 100 per cent in preparation for each game. He always wants to make sure that we know what we have to do in each specific match. He also always knows what needs to be done tactically, both offensively and defensively,” the Swedish striker explained.
“He works you,” remarked Marcus Edwards, who enjoyed a successful tenure under Amorim at Sporting. “He makes you want to be the best version of yourself. He’s constantly chatting to me in training, getting me used to the system and the way the team plays.”
Still, even with his high work rate and strict work ethic, Amorim comes across as a composed manager who manages to keep a cool head under pressure.
“He’s not a coach who is always screaming,” Tomas explained. “He’ll make some changes and corrections, but with him all the players know exactly what to do in every phase of the game.”
Former Braga player Xadas supported this claim, declaring: “He gives instructions and ideas about the game, but he also gives freedom to the player’s talent. When you go on the field with him, you know everything you have to do at every moment of the game.”
“He remains calm,” Bruno Simao, who played under Amorim at Casa Pia, remarked. “You get angry, but you don’t pass this to the players. If a player misses passes, he will shout at him, but they know how he is. He shouts because he’s angry, but not with them. It’s to push the players to their best.”
The excitement around Amorim’s arrival in Manchester is at its peak, with the Portuguese manager completing his first training session at Carrington.
While it remains to be seen how smoothly he will adjust to life at Old Trafford, it’s clear that Amorim is a confident, capable, and organised manager, with a slew of players laying on praise to their former mentor.
Although the future is unknown, the enthusiasm surrounding Amorim’s debut match against Ipswich Town on Sunday certainly appears to be warranted.
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