Incoming Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim says he is looking forward to proving himself in a new challenge on new shores as he prepares to take charge in his new job this week.
“I feel ready for the new challenge,” Amorim was quoted as saying by Reuters after overseeing his final match with Sporting in a 4-2 win over Braga on Sunday.
“I’m not naive, I know it’s going to be very different, very difficult. I’m at peace now, I can focus on my new job and I’m looking forward to starting tomorrow,” he added.
The Portuguese coach’s impressive resume was due to his work with Sporting, and he was sought after throughout Europe and especially in England. After great success with Sporting, he will start out at Old Trafford this week, and his work to recover the most successful club in England is cut out for him.
After sacking Erik Ten Hag, United have enjoyed a mini-recovery of sorts under interim coach Ruud van Nistelrooy, under whom they have won three of their four matches, including a 3-0 win at home against Leicester on Sunday. But they are still placed 13th in the league after 11 matches, and have scored only 12 goals in the Premier League so far.
“I know it will be difficult to reproduce what I have here elsewhere, but there are other places with different exposure and pressure … It’s been a fantastic adventure,” said Amorim, who has won the Primeira Liga twice with Sporting,” Amorim said.