I spent a week with Ruben Amorim's family and friends, this is what makes new Man United boss different to Erik ten Hag
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New Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim is, by his own friends and family’s admission, ‘different’ from the rest.
Amorim has barely got his feet under the desk at Carrington having touched down in Manchester on Monday.
But there are already high hopes for the man that broke Sporting’s 19-year wait for a league title in the 2020/21 season, which doubled as his first full campaign at the club.
Amorim led Sporting to another Primeira Liga triumph last term to cement his status as one of the hottest managerial properties in Europe.
His penchant for league titles was one of several reasons why the Red Devils quickly zeroed in on him once they pulled the trigger on Erik ten Hag in October after United’s dismal start to the 24/25 season.
Aside from his football philosophy, there’s another key contrast between Amorim and Ten Hag that has Red Devils fans excited for the club’s new era.
The Athletic’s Charlotte Harpur spent a week speaking with Amorim’s family and friends to gain a valuable insight into the man and revealed exactly why his inner circle are adamant he will succeed where so many have failed.
“It’s his charisma, it’s his smile,” Harpur told talkSPORT’s Inside Devils.
“It’s very easy to say, but when you interact with him, just from a media perspective, it’s fresh and it is different, especially in contrast to Erik ten Hag.
“I think you can always get a bit carried away. They say it’s the hope that kills you, but from the impression that I’ve had, speaking to his family and to his friends, even in his recent and quite short experience as a coach, they feel he is different and can offer a fresh look. It’s hard to express, they said.
“He’s going to provide Manchester United, hopefully, with a clean page and a new perspective.”
Harpur also highlighted Amorim’s ability to cultivate a positive environment at Sporting despite plenty of backroom turbulence.
It points to a heightened emotional sense that could prove extremely vital to lifting the mood at Old Trafford.
However, Harpur warned fans Amorim will need time to cultivate a similarly positive environment within his new squad as he learns what makes each player tick.
“If you look at Sporting’s situation, it was described to me as civil war at the time in terms of disorganisation,” Harpur said.
“He really had to cultivate and build that trust with them.”
Harpur added: “I think the big contrast is that at Sporting, it was Ruben Amorim’s boys, they were his brand.
“Whereas he is inheriting a completely different squad with completely different egos and players that aren’t his that he has brought in himself.”
It hasn’t taken long for Amorim to bring his positive energy to the team as United’s social media accounts posted a video of the new boss warmly embracing the likes of Mason Mount, Luke Shaw and Leny Yoro at Carrington.
Amorim’s first opportunity to lead United to victory arrives on November 24 when his side face Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
