SCRUTINY
Amorim would step into what is considered one of football’s most scrutinised jobs at a club clamouring for a return to the glory days. Ten Hag, who was sacked a day after a 2-1 loss to West Ham, was the fifth permanent coach since the club’s most successful boss Alex Ferguson, to attempt to take them there.
The Portuguese is no stranger to the Old Trafford pressure-cooker, having done a coaching internship under Jose Mourinho at the club six years ago.
He also has a fan in United captain and Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes who said earlier this month that “since Mr Amorim arrived at Sporting, it has been one of the teams to play the best football”.
“They have been consistent, the signings have been right and they are in a very good moment,” Fernandes told a Portugal press conference during the international break.
“It’s a very well prepared team. Coaching Sporting and winning championships is not easy. Sporting went 20 years without winning championships and Amorim arrived and has already won two, this shows that the work has been done well.
“If he could manage to do the same in England, Spain or anywhere else, you will never know until you get there, but I’m sure his qualities are there for everyone to see.”
Amorim, a former Benfica and Portugal midfielder who won three Primeira League titles with Benfica, is known for dynamic, offensive football. His teams can counter-attack quickly when in possession.
The manager laughed when asked about the reports at a Sporting press conference on Monday, saying he was expecting the question but was not prepared to talk about it.
United’s interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy will be in charge of Wednesday’s League Cup tie at home to Leicester City.
