Ruben Amorim, the Manchester United manager, is surprised by the number of Manchester United fans who tell him he is doing a good job.
Amorim shared his thoughts on his challenging time at Old Trafford when asked about the most common thing supporters say to him.
The Portuguese coach almost laughed and said, “They say something really strange to me: ‘You are doing a good job.'”
“It is sometimes very hard to understand. It’s really important for me,” he added.
Amorim values the support from United fans because he knows that his four months in charge have not been successful.
Manchester United is currently in the bottom half of the Premier League table before their home game against Arsenal. They have only won six and lost eight out of 18 league games under his management.
Amorim admits he has made mistakes, especially in managing relationships with staff outside of the players.
Speaking to TNT Sports, he said, “When you are a player, you only think about yourself, but as a manager, you have to think about many people, not just the players but all the staff.”
“All the staff are watching you, so you need to pay attention to that. This is something I didn’t do well at first in Manchester because I was focused on the matches.”
“Now, I am starting to build a very good connection with all the staff and the players.”
Amorim gained respect from some non-football staff by acknowledging that the team’s poor performance was the reason for job losses at the club.
However, some in the dressing room were reportedly less happy about being criticized by the new manager. The legacy of Sir Alex Ferguson’s success at United is a constant presence for Amorim, just as it has been for all managers who have followed him.
Amorim mentioned that Sir Alex Ferguson has contacted him to offer advice.
The United boss also mentioned he might change his pre-game routine of giving a water bottle to his assistant to try and change the team’s luck.
Amorim said, “This is the time to make changes when you are not winning enough.”
People close to Amorim sometimes think he is too open in interviews and press conferences.
His answers to a series of quick questions revealed more than expected.
The main message was how thankful Amorim is for the fans’ continued belief in him, even when he seems to doubt himself.
He said, “The way they support us, even when we are losing, in the bad moments, that is the most special thing.”
Amorim was a champion in Portugal as a player for Benfica and as a coach for Sporting Lisbon.
He is waiting for the day when United fans can sing their version of John Denver’s “Country Roads” to celebrate winning their first Premier League title since Ferguson’s departure in 2013.
Amorim said, “The ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ song that they adapted is perfect. I really dream of winning the title and hearing that song at Old Trafford.”
Marcus Bellamy