Manchester United’s players already have a ‘nickname’ for head coach Ruben Amorim.
Amorim, 39, arrived at the club’s Carrington Training Centre on Monday and was greeted by several members of the Red Devils’ hierarchy – including sporting director Dan Ashworth, CEO Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox.
On the same day, he took charge of training for the first time, with the Portuguese having just ten senior players available due to the ongoing international break.
As a result, several academy players joined in the session.
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Amad, who is thought to be impressing his new boss, Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo were among the training squad.
The former Sporting Club boss faces a tough trip to Portman Road on Sunday, 24 November, where he will take charge of his first game as United boss against Ipswich Town.
Fans have been paying close attention to the footage of training ahead of the fixture as they try to piece together his potential starting line-up.
The Sun Sport reported that the players have been ‘blown away’ by Amorim’s ‘Mourinho-style’ confidence.
“Even before Monday’s first session, the players have been very impressed,” a source explained.
“Then, after the sessions, they are blown away by his energy, approach and confidence.
“There’s definite Mourinho vibes in the way he speaks and his self-belief - but the style is his own.
“The players think he’s very approachable and that he will understand them. Some of them are calling him Mourinho 2.0.”
Amorim’s ‘confidence’ is backed up by his impressive record in his native Portugal.
The 39-year-old helped Sporting secure their first title in 19 years when he led them to the 2020/21 Primeira Liga crown before adding a second league trophy in 2023/24.
Understandably, many United fans are looking at Amorim as the man who could restore the club to the glory days of the past, the Premier League is a tougher place to thrive than Portugal’s top flight.
Amorim insisted he and his players will need “time” to find success at the club when speaking during his first interview with Manchester United’s official website [via MUTV] on November 15.
"We know that we need time, but we have to win time,” Amorim explained.
“To win time is to win games.
“But the most important thing for me is identity.
"So, from day one, we will start with our identity.
“The most important thing for me at this moment is to create the principles, the identity and the character that we had in the past."
Topics: Manchester United, Ruben Amorim, Premier League, Sporting Lisbon, Portugal
Luke Davies