Ruben Amorim will take charge of Manchester United for the first time when they take on Ipswich Town on Sunday (November 24). There's plenty of excitement and enthusiasm around Old Trafford amid his apppointment as Erik ten Hag's replacement.
In his first press conference with Manchester United, the young tactician revealed that Jose Mourinho had reached out to him before his big day on the weekend. The Special One offered words of encouragement to his compatriot and helped him understand the magnitude of the job he’s taken on now after former manager Ten Hag was sacked last month due to Manchester United’s worst start to the Premier League season.
Mourinho is a familiar face among the United faithful, having managed between the summer of 2016 and December 2018. In his debut season, he won the UEFA Europa League and the Carabao Cup, but he was sacked after a string of poor results and some heated, controversial press conferences. The iconic former Real Madrid and Chelsea boss is now the head coach of Turkish giants Fenerbahce.
Ruben Amorim on what Jose Mourinho told him amid Manchester United's new era
Amorim explained the Portuguese connection between the two managers and how Jose reached out to him with a message, having only good words to say about Manchester United. Mourinho labeled it a “lovely club” as Ruben Amorim looks to establish himself as a long-term option for the Red Devils and bring them back to the glory days (via GOAL):
"He sent me a message, 'It’s a big club, a lovely club with lovely people,' and he’s correct, it still is. We are building a new club. I am a different guy. I hope to teach my players something different here. It’s the best club in England. We want to win, that’s all."
🔴📲 Rúben Amorim: “José Mourinho sent me a message. He said Man United is a big club, with lovely people. It still is”.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 22, 2024
“That is correct”. pic.twitter.com/XPO0Y7YuE3
Manchester United sit 13th in the league after the worst start to a Premier League season, with just two wins in the league before Ten Hag’s dismissal. Ruud van Nistelrooy took caretaker charge and oversaw one win and one draw in the league.
Despite the circumstances, Amorim says he’s the right man for the job and believes he can bring the glory days back to Old Trafford and take them back to the pinnacle of English football. All eyes are on Sunday now for United and Amorim as they face an Ipswich side coached by Mourinho's former assistant Kieran McKenna.