'I'm different from José Mourinho': dreamer Ruben Amorim holds first Man United press conference at the box office
Ruben Amorim has dismissed comparisons with Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, insisting he is “different” to his compatriot.
amorim has spoken to the media for the first time since joining the First division giants as their new head coach.
His debut as United manager comes on Sunday towards Ipswich in the Premier League, with his new club currently 13th in the table.
Amorim is his sixth permanent appointment since the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013, with fellow icon Mourinho the third.
Mourinho presented three trophies at Old Trafford and, as he revealed this Friday, he sent a message to his Portuguese compatriot.
“He sent me a message: it's a big club, a lovely club with lovely people, and he's right, it still is,” Amorim said. “We are building a new club.
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“I'm a different guy. I hope to teach my players something different here. It's the best club in England. We want to win, that's all.”
United fans are hopeful that Amorim can be as successful at the club as Mourinho was, and the 39-year-old is still a young coaching prospect.
However, any possible comparisons that could be made between the two were dismissed at a box office press conference.
“The first thing, for me and for all the Portuguese coaches, it showed that we can be the best in the world,” Amorim explained.
“For a small country, it can leave a mark on everyone. But I am different from Mourinho, I am a different person.
“At that time (when he arrived at Chelsea in 2004), I felt like I could win everywhere. It's not the same. He was European champion (with Porto), I'm not European champion.
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“I'm a different guy at a different time, football is at a different time. Football today is different. I'm the right guy for this moment.
“I am a young boy and I understand the players. I will use it to help my players, like Mourinho did with Chelsea.
“The young people were like (Frank) Lampard and these types of players. It's very different. I think I'm the right guy for this moment.”
Instead of the 'Special One', the charismatic Amorim announced that he is the one.
Amorim added: “Call me naive, but I truly believe I am the right person at the right time.
“I could be wrong, but the world will keep turning, the sun will come out again, I don't worry about that. I truly believe I'm the right person for this job.”
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And he added: “I'm a bit of a dreamer, I believe in myself. I believe in the club, we have the same mentality.”
“I really believe in the players, I know you don't believe much, but I do. I want to try new things. You don't think it's possible, I do.”
Amorim, a former Portuguese international, had always trained in his home country before his appointment at United.
He first managed Casa Pia, before moving to Braga's B team and then the senior team before finally joining giants Sporting Lisbon.
The former midfielder won two Liga Portugal titles with the club, as well as two Taca da Liga trophies from 2020 until November.
Amorim was previously linked with managerial roles at Chelsea and Liverpool before moving to Old Trafford, as well as West Ham.
A tough initial streak A five-match Premier League series awaits and begins on Sunday as United desperately seek three points at the start of their new era.
Amorim's approach is certainly different to that of his predecessors, with his favored 3-4-3 formation to debut on Sunday despite limited preparation time due to international commitments.
“As a coach, you have to choose one path or another,” he said. “I always choose our path 100 percent. I prefer to risk a little but press at the first moment.
“If they feel that from day one I believe so much in the way we play, they will believe it too. So there are no second doubts, there is no second way. It's one way and we're going to do it.”
“We will adapt some players because we do not have the right profile. This team was built for a different system.
“But it's the same to play with five or four. The principles are the same. The positioning is a little different.
“Maybe on Sunday, when you see the list of players, the starting 11, you won't feel many changes. But you will feel it in the game, in the positioning, in the way they receive the ball or in covering the field.” “There are some changes.”
