Ruben Amorim has spoken out publicly for the first time on speculation that he could make a sensational return to Portugal.
The former Sporting Lisbon manager was linked with the Benfica job last week after Bruno Lage was sacked earlier this month.
Benfica are currently second in the Liga Portugal table but five points behind leaders Porto with a game in hand.
Lage was sacked after the Portuguese club were beaten 3-2 by Qarabag in their first league phase match of this season’s UEFA Champions League.
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The role was eventually filled by legendary coach Jose Mourinho, and Amorim was full of praise for the former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United manager.
“He’s the best Portuguese manager, and that won’t change,” he told Portuguese newspaper A Bola.
“He’s always been a very special person in our football, but also in the world, and he opened all the doors for us.
“I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Jose Mourinho.
“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun for you in Portugal, and we’re going to enjoy it.”
Having previously been linked with a shocking move to Benfica, Amorim then emphasised that his focus is exclusively on Manchester United.
“But that’s the way it is, and we’ll be here,” he added.
“Watching to see what happens, but focused only on Manchester, and that will be my only club.”
Amorim’s United side beat Chelsea 2-1 in the Premier League on Saturday after Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was sent off early in the first half.
Those three points left United in 11th place in the Premier League after five matches.
However, the pressure is still on Amorim to get the best out of his players after a difficult start to life at Old Trafford.
Mourinho has joined Benfica after being sacked by Turkish side Fenerbahce last month.
Mourinho’s time in Istanbul came to an end after his former employers were eliminated from the Champions League play-offs by his new side, Benfica.
Benfica bounced back from their Champions League loss against Qarabag with a 3-0 win over AVS in the league on Saturday.
Topics: Jose Mourinho, Ruben Amorim, Manchester United, Benfica
Jonathan Bray