Erik ten Hag had been walking on thin ice since last season at Manchester United after the club reached historic milestones that weren’t in a positive direction. The Red Devils finished eighth last season, their lowest Premier League finish in the division’s history and also finished with a shocking -1 goal difference.
Despite winning the FA Cup and signing a 12-month contract extension, Ten Hag was relieved of his duties following a string of bad results and no win in the Europa League this season. With no time wasted, Manchester United announced the appointment of highly-rated Portuguese tactician Ruben Amorim as the new head coach, who would take over from interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy after the November international break. The Dutchman successfully turned the tide in favor of the incoming new boss, who has since arrived at Carrington.
The Portuguese Duo
Bruno Fernandes left Sporting CP and joined Manchester United in 2020 before the Liga Portugal giants paid Braga a compensation fee to bring Amorim in. Unfortunately, Sporting fans couldn’t spectate the duo working together, which would’ve been a dream scenario, but fans on the red side of Manchester will be witnessing that.
The United captain has keenly observed Amorim’s achievements at his old club and is full of praise for the 39-year-old. Fernandes believes his compatriot's connection with his players sets him apart from the rest and could be hugely beneficial for the Red Devils.
Fernandes told MUTV in an interview:
“For me what stands out for me is the connection he has with players. When the manager is going from your club in the middle of the season with all the things they have still to win, you see the way they say goodbye to him, the way they make him feel part of the team and the way they treat him, it shows he's a great character and he is someone that gives his all to the players."
He highlighted how Amorim shields and protects his players from criticism and helps them overcome obstacles, and he hopes he will bring that to Old Trafford.
“I have seen many moments where players were struggling and he goes to the press conference to defend his players to give them the best opportunity to shine," he said. "He had a really young team so he needed to do that, hopefully, he can do the same with us."
When Ruben met the Reds 🥹❤️#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 13, 2024
Amorim’s emphasis on inspiring his players may be a vital factor in turning Manchester United’s season around after a difficult start. During that time, they also had to see their old manager get the sack. The Red Devils' new head coach will be in the dugout at Portman Road on November 24 for his first game against Kieran McKenna's Ipswich Town.