'Right club, right moment' - Gary Neville beams as Ruben Amorim admits decision to join Man Utd was 'very tough' but necessary

The 39-year-old Portuguese manager was officially unveiled as United's new head coach shortly after Erik ten Hag’s dismissal by Ineos. Amorim steps into a challenging situation as United currently sit 13th in the Premier League standings, far from their historical dominance. However, after spending four years at Sporting, the manager admitted that it was tough for him to leave the club midway through the season, even though the opportunity to manage the Red Devils was a tempting one.

In a candid conversation with former United captain and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, Amorim said: "I had already had conversations with clubs so it was quite normal but what I felt at the time is that this is my place. I think it was the right club at the right moment for me. It was very tough to leave Sporting because, in the middle of the season, you can say at the moment that everything is Manchester United and they are the club that I want but you are leaving your guys in the middle of the season."

Amorim has been working with the United squad for close to two weeks but got the entire squad at his disposal a couple of days back after the international break concluded. Expressing his excitement for the opportunity, he added: "It’s really hard but I had to do it and I was so happy, you can see it in every interview I have, but I also felt that in the first moment, it is a little bit overwhelming. After five minutes though, you start thinking about the club, the team, the players and how to play so it was quite fun."

Amorim will make his bow at the United dugout during Sunday’s trip to Suffolk, where Ipswich Town await. The clash serves as the first opportunity for him to demonstrate his vision for the team and steer them toward better results. The pressure to deliver is immense, with a relentless series of fixtures ahead. After the Ipswich game, United will host Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday and then face Everton and a high-flying Arsenal.