Ruben Amorim says he is 'ready for the challenge' of leading Manchester United after Sporting swansong - 'I'm not naive'

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Ruben Amorim told reporters that he is "at peace now" after earning an 11th-straight league win in his final game in charge of Sporting CP. The Portuguese manager will now take the reins at Manchester United and said he is "ready for the new challenge" of leading the Premier League side, but offered no assurances that interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy will stay on: "I have to talk with him."

'I feel ready for the new challenge' - Amorim looking forward to getting started at Man Utd

Video credit: TNT Sports

Ruben Amorim said he is “ready for the new challenge” of managing Manchester United after bowing out as Sporting CP boss with a win, but insists he is "not naive" about the task ahead.

United appointed Amorim as their new boss following the sacking of Erik ten Hag, but it was agreed that the Portuguese would continue to lead the Lisbon club up to the November international break.

Amorim masterminded a stunning 4-1 UEFA Champions League win over Manchester City in his final home game, while Sunday’s 4-2 victory over Braga was Sporting’s 11th league win in as many games.

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“I feel ready for the new challenge. I'm not naive, I know that it's going to be very different, very tough, but I feel that I am ready,” Amorim said after the game.

“I'm at peace now. I can focus on my new job, and I'm looking forward to starting tomorrow."

Amorim, 39, led Sporting to their second league title in four years last season and has them six points clear on top with a perfect record in 2024/25.

Highlights: Gyokeres hat-trick gives Amorim perfect farewell win over Man City

Video credit: TNT Sports

But his attention now turns to the task awaiting him at Old Trafford and big decisions around his tactics and coaching staff.

At Sporting, Amorim has deployed a 3-4-3 formation and he expects to start life with United doing the same thing.

"I know how I am going to play in the beginning, because you have to start with a structure that you know and then you will adapt with the players that you have,” he said.

“Injuries or no injuries, what kind of players, the abilities to defend, to attack. I will discover that in the next few weeks.

“We don't have a lot of time to train so I have to show something that I know very well. So you can take whatever you want from that question."

Ruud van Nistelrooy has led The Red Devils on an interim basis since Ten Hag was sacked on October 29.

The club's former striker oversaw a strong run of three wins and a draw in all competitions, most recently Sunday’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Leicester City.

But Amorim offered no guarantees that there will be a place for Van Nistelrooy in his coaching team.

Van Nistelrooy outlines ‘clear ambitions to manage’ but reiterates desire to assist Amorim

Video credit: SNTV

"About a legend of a club like Manchester, he did a great job,” he said.

“I have to talk with him tomorrow and then I will explain everything. I'm very clear and I will tell you like it is. So let's wait until tomorrow. Maybe we are not going to talk. So let's wait for the next few weeks."

Amorim now has two weeks to prepare for his United debut, a trip to Ipswich Town on November 24 in the Premier League.

United are 13th in the league standings, five points outside the top four.

In the UEFA Europa League table, they are 15th, three points outside the top eight, which brings an automatic qualifying spot to the last 16.