Bernardo Silva had a lot to say about Ruben Amorim’s recent appointment as Manchester United’s new manager.
While he’s pleased to see his fellow Portuguese make the leap to such a big club, he’s not exactly rooting for him to succeed at Old Trafford.
After United’s recent decision to part ways with Erik ten Hag following a loss to West Ham, they quickly appointed Sporting boss Ruben Amorim on a three-year deal. At just 39 years old, Amorim has already made waves in the football world, leading Sporting to two Portuguese league titles since he took the reins in 2020. His attacking style has won plenty of fans, and Silva seems to appreciate what he brings to the table.
Ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League game against Sporting, Silva shared his thoughts on Amorim’s impact in Lisbon and what he could offer United. “Since he’s been at Sporting, it’s been clear that he, the president, and the sporting director all worked together towards the same goal,” Silva remarked. “When competent people share the same vision and move in the same direction, the chances of success are much higher.”
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Silva added, “You can see he’s tactically sharp. He’s always improving and making his teams better each season.” But while Silva recognizes Amorim’s talent, he’s understandably hesitant about his fellow Portuguese making his mark at United. “As a United rival, I can’t say I wish him all the best. But he deserves the recognition and the chance to lead one of the world’s biggest clubs because of the incredible work he’s done these past few years,” Silva said. “He’ll be a competitor, but I’m still happy to see another Portuguese manager in the Premier League.”
Amorim’s excitement for the Man United challenge
As for Amorim, he admits he would’ve preferred to take over at United next summer. However, he accepted the job mid-season after realizing it was a now-or-never situation.
Amorim explained, “We had started the season strong, and then Manchester United came in, paying above my release clause. The president was looking out for the club’s best interests.” He continued, “For three days, I kept saying I wanted to stay at Sporting until the season’s end, but I was told that wasn’t an option. It was either now or never, and Manchester would look elsewhere if I didn’t commit.”
After weighing his options, Amorim felt he had to make the leap, even though it wasn’t an easy decision. “I had just three days to make up my mind, knowing this would be a major turning point in my life,” he shared. “I’ve had other offers before, and this wasn’t the first time another club reached out. But after Sporting, it’s always been United I wanted. Their setup lets me work the way I want, and they believe in me.”
“There comes a time when you need to take the next step in your career,” Amorim added. “This was my time. It was harder for me than for any Sporting fan, believe me. But this was a move I needed to make.”
What’s next for Man United under Amorim
With Amorim in charge, United’s plans are already shaping up. Reports indicate that Amorim is looking to bring some familiar faces to Old Trafford, targeting Sporting players Goncalo Inacio, Ousmane Diomande, and Viktor Gyokeres. He’s willing to make substantial investments to secure their transfers.
Alongside this, Jamie Carragher has hinted that Amorim might shake things up, potentially using Alejandro Garnacho in a deeper role than he’s used to. Amorim’s favored 3-4-3 formation differs significantly from Erik ten Hag’s 4-2-3-1, suggesting a shift in United’s style.
Carragher speculated that United’s lineup might look something like this under Amorim: Andre Onana in goal; Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, and Lisandro Martinez in defense; Noussair Mazraoui, Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo, and Garnacho in midfield; and an attacking trio of Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Hojlund, and Marcus Rashford.
This role would be a bit unfamiliar for Garnacho, but Carragher noted it’s not entirely different from his usual wing position in Amorim’s system.
As Amorim steps into this new role, Manchester United fans have a lot to look forward to, and the Premier League is set for an exciting shake-up.
