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Manchester United’s hierarchy have told Ruben Amorim to get the best out of the squad he has inherited as he will not be able to rely on a transfer warchest in January.
Amorim was officially announced as United’s new head coach at the start of the month and the 39-year-old took charge of his opening training session at Carrington on Monday.
Fans will get the opportunity to see Amorim in a Premier League dugout for the first time when the Red Devils take on Ipswich Town at Portman Road this weekend.
Amorim takes over a playing squad badly lacking in confidence after what proved a wretched end to Erik ten Hag’s time in the hot seat, with the Old Trafford giants languishing down in 13th place in the English top flight.
But plenty of positives emerged from Ruud van Nistelrooy’s four-match stint as interim head coach and the club will hope Amorim’s arrival marks the start of a new chapter after a sustained period of turmoil and disappointment.
Among the many criticisms levelled at Ten Hag was the sheer number of high-profile signings that failed to live up to expectations across his reign, including the likes of Antony, Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee.
In total, United spent in excess of £600million during the Dutchman’s two-and-a-half-year tenure and club bosses are now determined to tighten the purse strings due to ‘financial concerns’, according to ESPN.
It is claimed Amorim has been challenged to work with the squad he has inherited from Ten Hag rather than depending on expensive first-team additions over the coming transfer windows.
The report adds that there is ‘little desire to rip up the current group of senior players’ despite their failings under Amorim’s predecessor.
Amorim is, though, expected to have a major say in comings and comings alongside sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox in INEOS’ new-look football structure.
In his first interview with United’s official website, Amorim underlined his intention to restore the club’s ‘identity’ after years of toil in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
‘We know that we need time, but we have to win time. To win time is to win games. But the most important thing for me is identity,’ the former Sporting and Braga head coach said.
‘From day one we will start with our identity. Of course we are going to prepare for the games, but we will focus a lot on our game model. How to play, how to press, these small details.
‘You cannot go 100 per cent on every detail because it will be confusing for the players. So if I have to say one thing, my main goal, my first goal, is identity.’
Amorim added: ‘I’m a small part of the club. I know that the manager or head coach is so important in the club because you have in your hands the engine of the club.
‘I understand that, but I want to be part of something. I don’t want to be just in charge. So I want everybody together. It will be more fun and so much easier to reach the goals.
‘A long time ago, we don’t win the Premier League. But if you ask (me), Manchester United is the biggest club in England. So this is part of the history, it is not now. So we have to to address that, to show that and to try to win again.
‘That is a great responsibility. And the first thing is that I’m really honoured to be here. It was my only choice because I think I really feel the how big this club is. And then I will do everything for the team.’
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