Ruben Amorim: Beat Man City and United fans will call me the new Alex Ferguson

Amorim’s Sporting Lisbon team face City in the Champions League and new United manager is aware victory could send hype into overdrive

Rúben Amorim expects to be compared to Alex Ferguson with a victory against Manchester City in his final home game as Sporting Lisbon manager before starting at Old Trafford next week.
The Portuguese coach, 39, faces City in the Champions League and anticipates an emotional farewell at Estádio José Alvalade as he serves his notice with Sporting after agreeing his move to Manchester United to succeed Erik ten Hag.
Sporting have a 100 per cent record in Primeira Liga this season and Amorim admits confidence in him being a success at United will grow if he can defeat Pep Guardiola, who he regards as the best coach in the world. He then faces Braga at the weekend before starting at his new club.
“If the result is negative, expectations will drop; if we win they will think that the new Alex Ferguson has arrived,” Amorim said. “What interests me is to win, a good farewell in Alvalade, win in Braga and start a new adventure in Manchester. What I want is to leave the fans and my players happy for what is to come in the new season.”
Amorim says he intends to speak to Jose Mourinho during the start of his time at United, having undergone an internship under his fellow Portuguese when he was at Old Trafford. He also believes it will take him three months for his English to be up to speed for his squad.
“My communication at the beginning will be simpler because it is in English,” he said. “I think I will have to spend three months… they say that is enough. The players will not be offended if I say that they are more basic, I give training sessions here in English.
“It will be a different adaptation, but my life will be the same, there is a way of playing, an idea, communication will be more basic. Regarding Guardiola, I took a lot from him, from [Roberto] De Zerbi, from Jorge Jesus… I get inspiration from everywhere, I look at the best coaches in the world, and even others, but there are always ideas that we can use.”
On his relationship with Mourinho, he added: “I spent an internship in Manchester, seven years ago. Now I am going back as a coach.
“I haven’t spoken to José Mourinho yet, he’s full of games and so have I. The impact he had on my career was the way he treated me, he showed me that you can win everything and be a different person than you think.
“A special coach, who opened doors for us. He’s remarkable, as Portuguese people, I’ll have time to speak to him, he’s very experienced.”
Meanwhile, Sporting midfielder Morten Hjulmand says United are in good hands under Amorim.
“Ruben was one of the reasons why I came to Sporting,” he said. “When you get the clear picture of the way he sees football and the way he wants you in the team, that is very important for a player. The way he manages outside and inside the pitch is not like anything I’ve seen before in my career. Manchester are in good hands.”