Incoming Man Utd supervisor Ruben Amorim admits he had thought of following sporting director Hugo Viana to Man Metropolis – however says he by no means had doubts about taking up at Outdated Trafford.
A transfer to Metropolis, the place Pep Guardiola is out of contract subsequent summer time, had been lengthy mooted for Amorim earlier than he put pen to paper final week on a contract to turn out to be Man Utd’s new head coach from November 11.
It was confirmed final month that Viana, who appointed Amorim at Sporting in 2020, will turn out to be Man Metropolis’s new director of soccer on the finish of the season.
Talking forward of Sporting’s Champions League sport with Metropolis on Tuesday, Amorim revealed the prospect of following his buddy to the Etihad had crossed his thoughts.
However the 39-year-old insisted he had no doubts about becoming a member of the purple half of Manchester.
“Obviously, it’s something which crossed my mind but I never had any doubt,” he mentioned.
“My choice has been made, that is the membership I need to work for, the context I need to be in, and the place I need to proceed my profession.
“I didn’t want anything else. It is a decision I thought about but was not undecided about it. I wanted Man Utd and that’s what I did.”
Amorim: I will be subsequent Fergie if we win on Tuesday!
Amorim joked Man Utd followers will assume he’s the subsequent Sir Alex Ferguson forward of his Outdated Trafford transfer, if Sporting handle to beat Metropolis within the Champions League on Tuesday.
The pinnacle coach quipped again at Sky Sports activities Information’ Gary Cotterill when requested whether or not he might turn out to be a Man Utd hero earlier than he even takes up his new function subsequent week.
“I don’t think about it,” he mentioned. “My focus is about winning the match, and winning it for Sporting.
“Then, the conclusions individuals will draw are usually not essential for me. They might be inaccurate.
“If it is a very negative outcome, the expectations will drop. That’s not exactly a poor starting point to start at Man Utd.
“If we win tomorrow, individuals will assume the brand new Sir Alex Ferguson has arrived – and that might be troublesome to reside as much as!
“So I’m not interested what conclusions what people draw. I’m interested in winning the match, having a good farewell and then after that starting a new life in Man Utd.
“It might enhance expectations, it might decrease them. I do not know what is healthier for me after I begin my new journey in Manchester.
“What I want is to leave the Sporting fans and my players happy, and to qualify for the play-offs.”
Hjulmand: Man Utd in good fingers underneath Amorim
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Sporting Lisbon captain Morten Hjulmand displays on head coach Ruben Amorim’s imminent departure and says the quad now need to show that they do not want him any extra
Midfielder Morten Hjulmund, the captain Amorim will depart behind subsequent Monday, spoke extremely of his soon-to-be former boss – and his prospects in England – and revealed the extent of affect he had over his personal transfer to Lisbon in 2023.
“Ruben is one of the reasons I came to Sporting,” he mentioned. “When you work with him, you get a clear picture of the way he sees football and how he sees you inside the team.
“That image is essential for a participant when it is clear. Then he is aware of his function, what he can deliver to the crew and to Ruben.
“That was important when I joined the club, to understand the way he plays. The way he manages the team on and off the pitch, is not anything I’ve seen before in my short career.
“I am unable to inform you all the small print, however Man Utd are in good fingers with Ruben.”
