Amorim believes he can restore United to former glory

Ruben Amorim might be Manchester United’s sixth permanent boss since they last hoisted the Premier League trophy in 2013, but the 39-year-old said he was the right man to finally restore the team to their former glory.

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“I’m a little bit of a dreamer,” Amorim said on Friday. “I believe in myself, I believe in the club, we have the same mindset. I truly believe in the players, I know you (media) don’t believe a lot but I do. I want to try new things. You guys don’t think it’s possible, I do.”

The Portuguese spoke at a crowded press conference at United’s Carrington Training Centre, his first since he joined the team as their head coach on November 11, and two days ahead of his first match in charge on Sunday at Ipswich Town.

The intense scrutiny on one of the world’s biggest clubs has turned the head coach’s position into what many call “the impossible job.” Amorim shrugged off that notion with a laugh, despite the revolving door of managers to fail before him.

“Of course not,” he said. “Call me naive, I truly believe I’m the right guy for the right moment. I’m not worried about that.”

Despite having had just two training sessions with his new team because of the recent international break, Amorim promises fans will see a difference, but not a major overhaul, when they take the Portman Road pitch on Sunday.

“Simple things I think,” Amorim said. “We lose the ball too often. We have to be better at running back and we have to be very good in the details. It’s the small things, we have to improve the small things. Understanding the small things, I think is what I’m good at.”

Amorim said he received a good luck message from compatriot and former United boss Jose Mourinho, that said “‘It’s a big club, lovely club with lovely people,’ and he’s correct, it still is,” he said. “(But) we are building a new club. I am a different guy. I hope to teach something different here to my players. It’s the best club in England. We want to win, that’s all.”