PAUL SCHOLES has performed a U-turn on new Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim by insisting he is now “really excited” about the Portuguese coach’s arrival.
Last week, the legendary Red Devils midfielder claimed the hype around Amorim “feels a bit like Erik ten Hag”.
When discussing the Sporting Lisbon boss’ tactical ideas – namely a three-man defence and possession-based style – Scholes also cut a concerned figure as he admitted it is “something United don’t really do”.
But ahead of his former club’s 2-0 win over PAOK in the Europa League on Thursday night, Scholes transformed his comments into overwhelming positivity.
It came just two days after Amorim’s Sporting thrashed Manchester City 4-1 in the Champions League.
Speaking on TNT Sports, Scholes said: “I am really excited about it. We have been in for managers and players who we haven’t really had any competition to try to sign.
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“Especially some of the players where there are not the likes of Barcelona, Man City and Liverpool – the big clubs being after them.
“I think with Ruben Amorim, everyone is looking and they are a little bit jealous, because I think some of them really, really wanted him.
“I know he has been spoken about with City once Pep goes, so he has been thought of in that high regard.
“That is something we haven’t really had before. We had [Louis] van Gaal, who getting a big job at that stage of his career was a surprise.
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“For [Jose] Mourinho, it was probably his last big job and it was a bit surprising for the Chelsea rivalry.
“This is the first one where you think, ‘yes, this is a real coup’. We have got in there ahead of three, four, five top clubs around Europe and it is exciting. I can’t wait for him to come.”
Amorim was heavily linked with the Liverpool job earlier this year before Arne Slot was appointed as Jurgen Klopp’s replacement.
He flew to London for talks with West Ham, while there were also reports he was being lined up as Pep Guardiola’s replacement at Man City.
But Man Utd is where he has ended up – a position he will officially begin on Monday.
His first match in charge comes after the international break on November 24 when they travel to Ipswich.
Interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy will take the reigns for a fourth and final time on Sunday when Man Utd host Leicester.
Ruben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man Utd
WHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.
Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.
But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.
Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.
He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers.
The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.
And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.
Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.
Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.
United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”
And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.
For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
