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      Liverpool’s Mo Salah is NOT world class… but I can name five players who are, says Troy Deeney

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      I HAVE received a bit of heat this week for some comments on Mohamed Salah — so let me talk you through it.I claimed Salah is NOT world class. Mo Salah is brilliant player, but falls short of being world classTroy Deeney has named five players who could walk into any team in the worldThe Liverpool player is a brilliant winger, his goalscoring numbers are incredible and he has achieved some truly amazing things at the club.But world class? No.Let me make this clear — this is not a personal attack on Salah. I think he is a top player and a great guy.I played against him a lot in my career and can appreciate just how good he is.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSBut trying to be everyone’s friend? That’s not my bag. I will say it how it is.In general, this is about the term “world class” as a whole — what does it actually mean and when can we use it?Firstly, it is a very lucid way to describe a footballer.It’s not like at The Masters when you get your Green Jacket and you are a champion of Augusta forever, regardless of how bad you play afterwards.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSIt is something as a player that takes ages to earn and probably half a season to lose, and then the fight to get it back begins again.Some players — great players — have struggled to earn that title at all during their careers. Top 10 highest-paid Premier League starsGary Neville is one of the most decorated full-backs of all time, but we all considered Roberto Carlos or Cafu to be a level above.Yet if I had Neville’s career behind me, would I care if someone said I wasn’t world class? Of course not.No player is safe from dropping out of this subjective, opinionated category, but there is always a way back.For instance, someone like Kylian Mbappe I would argue is also currently NOT world class. An incredible player, won plenty, got his big move to Real Madrid this summer, but his form has not been at the level of previous seasons.PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe has failed to hit the mark in Madrid so farTo earn and keep that world class tag, I believe you need to be able to transcend your whole team, transcend the game — not simply by having the most shirt sales, but being able to consistently lift a club to glory by yourself.Can Mbappe at 25 get back to being world class? Definitely. But for now, he has some work to do.As for Salah, you can look at his stats — 165 Prem goals in 274 games — and say this and that but ultimately, it is about what he brings to the team and the impact he has season after season, not just in certain games and moments.I was on the end of loads of drubbings at Watford when Salah was amazing for Liverpool.But when we prepared to face them, it was not just a case of “stop Salah and you win”.Changes to the Premier League for 2024/25NOTHING stays the same forever.And that includes the Premier League, which is making a number of tweaks this season.Team news will now be released 75 MINUTES before kick-off, 15 minutes earlier than had been the case before.Things could get crowded on the touchline, with the number of substitutes permitted to warm-up boosted from three players per team to FIVE.There’s also a change to how added time is calculated when a team scores a goal, an update to the ‘multiball’ system and the introduction of semi-automated offsides – but not straight away.Go here to read about all the changes to the Premier League for 2024/25.It was a lot harder when they also had Sadio Mane in the side who, in my opinion, was more effective over that period than Salah.And if we were basing this purely off numbers and goals, then Bruno Fernandes would be one of the best midfielders in the world, but he is not.You see where I am coming from?I can remember Graeme Souness once telling me his theory on whether you were world class, and it was based on whether you could walk into any starting XI in world football.With that in mind, here are the five players currently in world football who, for me, can be deemed world class — who could stroll into any team on the planet and start:READ MORE SUN STORIESSaying all this, it is just my opinion. Someone can turn around and tell me I am wrong and that is absolutely fine.And if Salah is worrying about what  I think, then he is definitely not  world class.Vinicius Junior is one the best wingers in the worldErling Haaland is the best striker in the worldVirgil van Dijk is a world class Prem defender More

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      Ruben Amorim reveals three major changes he wants from Man Utd players as he tells flops ‘there is no second way’

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      RUBEN AMORIM says this Manchester United team are not physically right and need to work harder.The new boss has inherited a Red Devils squad that has posted the club’s worst ever start to a Premier League season leading to the sacking of Erik ten Hag.Ruben Amorim is prepared to put United through their paces to instil his philosophyNow he is tasked to change that.And Amorim said: “We have to improve the physical aspect of the team, that is something we want to improve.“I think we lose the ball too often and we have to keep the ball.“We have to be better running back. I think that is clear for everybody. And we have to be very good in the details.READ MORE ON MAN UTD“Sometimes we are hoping to change a lot of things, big things, I think it’s the small things and we are here to improve on the small things, the way we see football, play as a team, understanding the game in one way,  that is the focus.“I can tell you in the small things I can help a lot these players.”Amorim insists that even though the players have only had a few days working with him, he will change how they play from the start of his first game away to Ipswich on Sunday.He will immediately take risks by employing a 3-4-3 as he stamps his mark on the way United are going to play going forward, right from the off.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSHe said: “As a coach you have to choose one way or another, I choose always 100 percent our way. I choose to risk a bit.“I believe so much in our way of playing, they will believe too. There is no second way.How Ruben Amorim will resurrect Marcus Rashford’s Man United career with subtle position change“We will adapt some players because we don’t have a different profile. “Maybe on Sunday you will see the starting 11 and not feel a lot of change but you will see it in the game and the positioning or where they receive the ball.“It’s not revolution because football is not so different with five players, in the back, three players in the back or four players in the back.“I cannot say evolution because we will have to wait and see but we will play a different type of football, we have our ideas, I’m not saying these are the best ideas, but it’s our way of seeing football.“It’s not evolution or revolution, it’s a change in the way we play football.”“I think we have to improve in a lot of areas, the understanding of the game, I know it’s a different way of playing and we are changing in the middle of the season.”READ MORE SUN STORIESBut he thinks he has the players to do what he wants.He said: “Until they prove me wrong, I believe in the players.”Three Sporting stars Amorim could swoop for after joining Man UtdRUBEN AMORIM has ruled out poaching any of his Sporting Lisbon players in the January transfer window.But the Portuguese side’s chiefs expect Amorim will come calling in the summer – with his cheque book wide open.Here’s are three Sporting starts United could swoop for… but they won’t come cheap:VIKTOR GYOKERESAge: 26Position: StrikerCost: £84millionSwede has shone since joining Sporting last summer from Coventry — catching the eye of all Europe’s top clubs.Hit 43 goals in 50 games last season and boasts 18 strikes already this term.GONCALO INACIOAge: 23Position: DefenderCost: £50millionBall-playing centre-back was handed his debut by Amorim and has since become a key figure in Sporting’s recent title successes.Can also slot in at left-back if required and has 12 caps for Portugal.MORTEN HJULMANDAge: 25Position: MidfieldCost: £40millionDane is one of the top holding midfielders in Portugal — and made skipper by Amorim.He could be the man to replace Casemiro. More

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      West Ham ‘sound out former Champions League final manager’ as Julen Lopetegui ‘has TWO matches to save his job’

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      JULEN LOPETEGUI is not “listening or reading” about any sack speculation amid reports he has TWO matches to save his West Ham job.The Hammers are understood to have already sounded out Edin Terzic, who guided Borussia Dortmund to last season’s Champions League final before leaving the Bundesliga giants.Julen Lopetegui’s future could rest on results vs Newcastle and ArsenalCredit: RexEdin Terzic is rated a prime contender to step in if Lopetegui departsCredit: GettyAnd it’s claimed that should Lopetegui fail to get decent results away to Newcastle on Monday and then at home to Arsenal next Saturday, he will be shown the exit door.Typically, the West Ham hierarchy do not make mid-season firing but the club are 14th in the Premier League with only three wins from 11 matches.Terzic, a former Hammers’ assistant under Slaven Bilic, is regarded as a frontrunner should the Spaniard be replaced.He won the German Cup in his first spell in charge of Dortmund when he was interim chief.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLTerzic then returned to take the permanent position but quit in June this year after finishing fifth. TalkSPORT say West Ham Director of football Tim Steidten is a firm admirer of Terzic and that contact has already been made.It was put to Lopetegui, 58, that his time could soon be over in East London.But he responded: “The only thing I’m focused on is to be able to go to Newcastle in a tough match against a very good team.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“We have to be ready to improve and to overcome the kinds of difficulties that we are going to have as a team.“The rest of the things, believe me this is football, it’s up to you. I’m not focused on this.Who is Julen Lopetegui?“I’m not listening or reading. I’m focused on working in my daily work to be able to understand what things can happen to be a better team.“The rest of the things are out of my control.“We put all our focus on the things that we can control to be able to work better, with a high demanding, knowing that the players need to do better.“Knowing that the season arrives in May, not November. So, let’s see what happens in two, three months.”Lopetegui – who is without the suspended Edson Alvarez and Mohammed Kudus – said he “talks every week” with chairman and largest shareholder David Sullivan.He added: “Our life is to live under pressure. Our work is like this. That is why we choose this world.“The more important thing is that we are working very hard to be able to improve a lot.“The players have a big commitment to do this. I’m sure that we are going to achieve our levels.“It’s true that we are not happy with the position that we are in but it’s true that we have a lot of time to change this.READ MORE SUN STORIES“We have done good things, but not enough things and we have to do more good things. We have to be able to achieve the best level of all the players.“We have to increase the level of all the team. I’m sure that all the players are involved in this improvement.” More

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      Gary Neville admits ‘I got it wrong’ and apologises over Rashford criticism as Amorim demands Man Utd ‘change’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED icon Gary Neville has apologised for his criticism of Marcus Rashford and Casemiro in the wake of their trip to the USA last week.The duo spent the international break in the States after missing out on a call-up to their respective national teams.Gary Neville apologised for his comments on Marcus Rashford and Casemiro during a chat with Ruben AmorimCredit: YouTube/Sky Sports Premier LeagueRashford flew to New York for an NBA gameCredit: ReutersNeville did not shy away from criticising him and Casemiro, who travelled to Orlando, this weekCredit: PARashford was pictured watching Friday’s NBA clash between the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden.Meanwhile, Casemiro flew to Orlando to enjoy a family holiday at Disney World and a Magic game at Kia Center.However, both players received backlash with ex-United defender Neville leading the criticism.Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, the pundit explained: “The professionalism, looking after your body and making sure you’re best prepared for the next training session is critical to every decision you make during the season.Read More on Man Utd”He has got a mental break, he’s got to get away and has got to rest with friends – then you talk about the choice of venue, how far do you fly, what’s the time difference, is that going to give a jet lag issue, is that going to give a stiffness issue from being on a flight for 12 hours?”This is on Casemiro more than Rashford but if I’m 30 years old and I’m looking after my body – and he’s won five Champions Leagues and is an unbelievable player, but if he was away with Brazil for 10 days, we would say he would struggle this weekend because he’s been away.”They have chosen that international break. If you are talking about the minor details in being as professional as you can be and as prepared you can be for a training session on a Monday night, that isn’t the best choice of venue.”But in a recent interview with new Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim for Sky Sports, he partially took back some of his criticism.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSNeville said: “I made a comment this week about Casemiro and Marcus Rashford travelling to America in their few days off.”It was just me thinking as a Manchester United player when I played here. How Ruben Amorim will resurrect Marcus Rashford’s Man United career with subtle position change”You’ve got a few days off, the club are 13th in the league, the manager has just been sacked, it’s a challenging part of the season and the new manager is about to come in.”And that focus and preparation and every single little detail is really important, and I said I don’t think I’d have chosen that trip to go to America with the time difference. I did get it wrong – they went to New York rather than Portland so I apologise for that. “But there’s still a 5-6 hour time difference, they’re on planes, Casemiro’s 30 years of age.”Amorim insisted it was not his decision to let the duo travel during the break.He even went as far as to suggest he would have banned them from flying.Amorim explained: “I think the main question here is that us, as a club, have to set the standards and have to manage that.”It is my decision if they can have five days [off], three days or three days to rest, you cannot fly.”This is something that us, as a club, have to decide. For me? Yes for sure [he would have banned them].Amorim claimed he would not have let them fly if the decision was up to himCredit: Getty”We cannot put this on the players. They [United] told them they can have five days off so they can fly anywhere because nobody at the club says you cannot fly.”Amorim’s reign at Man Utd will officially begin this weekend when the Red Devils face Ipswich at Portman Road.The ex-Sporting Lisbon manager is determined to change things at Old Trafford, with United currently 13th in the Premier League table.He said: “Call me naive. But I truly believe I am the right guy in the right moment.”I could be wrong but the world still will turn [and] the sun will rise again, I don’t worry about that.”I truly believe I’m the right guy for this job.”In two years you will understand if I am the right man to be in this process.READ MORE SUN STORIES”In two years you can understand if you want to continue on this path or you want to change.”I know if you are at Manchester United you have to win games, so I will not tell you I need a lot of time.”Ruben Amorim leaves Sporting on a highBy Charlie WyettRUBEN AMORIM would have preferred to leave Lisbon in a blaze of glory after winning a third Primeira Liga title.Yet football does not work like that. And in what was surely his final game before taking charge of Manchester United, Amorim prepared to say his goodbyes at a half-empty Estadio Jose Alvalade in a League Cup quarter-final against Nacional.Sporting won 3-1 thanks to  second-half goals by captain  Morten Hjulmand and Viktor Gyokeres, who scored two.Luis Esteves pulled back for Madeira-based Nacional.The stadium  will be a good deal more lively on Tuesday when Manchester City are here for  a Champions League match — although Amorim should by then have his feet firmly under his desk at Old Trafford.Liverpool and Aston Villa were both interested in Europe’s most sought-after coach. Even City could have been a possible destination post-Pep Guardiola.Yet the United job is one Amorim, 39,  could not turn  down — even if not everyone saw it that way at Sporting last night.There is clearly a huge split in the Portuguese club’s fan base over their coach leaving at this stage of the season with many believing he should have seen the job through.Yet Amorim, along with the three-man coaching team who are expected to follow him, leaves a club in a much better state than when he arrived here in 2020.Inside the stadium, there was applause — albeit muted — when his name was read out before the game along with the line-ups.And there did not appear to be any jeers when Amorim shuffled out from the tunnel awkwardly towards the dugout.So, while his departure is hard to take for some, none of the fans will forget his legacy.This is a club which is back as the dominant force in Portugal. Even this term, Sporting have won their first nine league games, scoring 30 goals and conceding just two.They are also eighth in the Champions League table, which is one hell of an effort.In contrast, Lisbon was not exactly hit by League Cup fever last night.Amorim made lots of changes, which saw Sporting’s star man Gyokeres, the former Coventry striker, start on the bench.There was, however, a first appearance in six weeks for former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards. He is certainly one player who has been transformed by Amorim since arriving at the club from Vitoria in 2022 and will be sorry to see the coach leave.While he changed his team, Amorim stuck with his tried and trusted formation of a back three.It will certainly be something Manchester United’s fans will have to get used to over the  coming months.But looking at the Premier League table, none of them will be complaining about the change. More

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      Taylor Harwood-Bellis childhood incident practising DIVING that convinced dad Roy Keane’s son-in-law could be footballer

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      TAYLOR HARWOOD-BELLIS has had a taste of life at the top.Now England’s latest new-boy must turn his attention to taking on the best in the Premier League right now — and help shift Southampton off the bottom.Taylor Harwood-Bellis scored on his England debut last weekCredit: GettyHe is now prepared to face Liverpool with SouthamptonCredit: PAThe 22-year-old became the EIGHTH player to be handed a Three Lions debut during Lee Carsley’s interim spell in charge when coming on against the Republic of Ireland on Sunday in the Nations League.And he followed up Liverpool’s Curtis Jones’ feat versus Greece by also marking his bow with a goal to cap a blistering 5-0 win.Returning to the reality of Saints’ relegation battle must have been some comedown after such a high, particularly with imperious league-leaders the Reds up next.But while Harwood-Bellis is still buzzing to have proved he can mix it with the elite in this country, it is already just a memory ahead of Arne Slot’s winning machine — complete with a bang-in-form Mo Salah — rocking up at St Mary’s on Sunday.Read More on EnglandThe centre-back told BBC Radio Solent this week: “England is the pinnacle. The best English players, the best in the world are all there in one dressing room.“I’ve just got to focus on Liverpool. I’m not too bad at changing focus. Me scoring for England has not hidden the fact that we’re bottom of the league and we’ve got a big game on Sunday. That’s all my focus.”Brighton-born Southampton boss Russell Martin joked that Harwood-Bellis has barely stopped talking about it since his returning to training this week.Martin, who won 29 Scotland caps, said: “We have to make sure he keeps his feet on the ground but everyone’s so happy for him.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“If I’d played for England for ten minutes, I wouldn’t have shut up about it either.“I’d get hammered in Scotland for saying that, wouldn’t I? I was really proud to play for Scotland, so make sure that goes in there.Roy Keane reduces Ian Wright and Gary Neville to tears with crude comments about Premier League icon “I did celebrate his goal. We were all immensely proud of him at the club.“I see his mum and dad at games so when I see them next, I’m sure I’ll give them a hug and say congratulations.“I know they’ll be extremely proud and they know he’s in good hands here  with the amount of care and love he gets.”Harwood-Bellis’ headed goal at Wembley has been the talk of Saints’ training base this week, with team-mate Flynn Downes leading the banter.Midfielder Downes, 25, went to Wembley with Harwood-Bellis’ friends and family on Sunday as ex-Manchester City starlet Taylor made his first appearance.It was lucky he had not made it against Greece in Athens three days earlier, else his dad Martin and mum Tina would have missed it, having already booked a holiday to Cape Verde.Harwood-Bellis is another success story to come out of Stockport, along with fellow England internationals Phil Foden and Kobbie Mainoo.Dad Martin, who used to be Stockport County’s mascot Vernon Bear sensed his son might have a future in the game as a toddler.He revealed to BBC Radio Manchester: “The very, very early signs were when he was 18 months old and he was pretending to dive like a Premiership footballer.“He dived and broke his leg. A slight fracture. He had a plaster on his leg, I’ve still got the plaster, it’s only so big. He was still kicking a ball with a plaster on and he was kicking it straight to me. In fact he was kicking it better than I was kicking it to him and I had two good legs!”Harwood-Bellis’ old man also revealed how his son used to study football shows like Match of the Day, as well as what he saw from watching Stockport live, and implement what he had learnt at local side Spurley Hey.The youngster’s talent was quickly spotted and by six he had joined City.He was playing for England by Under-15 level, in an age group that included Tino Livramento, Morgan Rogers, Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer and also had Jude Bellingham playing a year up.Harwood-Bellis’ leadership qualities — attributes his future father-in-law Roy Keane would appreciate — saw him regularly named skipper  for club and country.He was known for his dedication, setting of standards in training and how vocal he was on the pitch as well as discipline off it.Harwood-Bellis is engaged to Roy Keane’s daughter, LeahCredit: officialkeane16 / InstagramThat sees him still today inspect the labels of all food at his parents’ house for fat content before eating it. City rated him highly but given the competition in Pep Guardiola’s first team, a series of loans began before one which ended in a permanent move to Saints.At Anderlecht and Burnley, the defender learned about detail and a relentless drive to win from working with Vincent Kompany.Phil Jagielka taught him about the dark arts of defending at Stoke.It was surprising to see no Premier League side sign him two summers ago, after he had captained England to Under-21 Euros glory.More physical defenders with a quicker top speed over the first ten-15 metres were favoured.But that overlooked Harwood-Bellis impressive reading of the game, with one of his  former coaches telling SunSport: “Taylor always has an extra yard in his head.”Southampton, then a Championship side, did not initially think they would be able to attract Harwood-Bellis.READ MORE SUN STORIESThat was until a season-long loan deal, with a £20million permanent option on  promotion, was proposed via TransferRoom, the digital football marketplace that more than 700 clubs worldwide use.Sam Stanton, Saints’ head of scouting  operations, said at the time: “We never thought he’d be available to us. So when he was pitched to us, we were really excited straight away.”The defender spent the 2022-23 season on loan at BurnleyCredit: GettyHe also enjoyed a short stay with StokeCredit: Getty More

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      England star, 31, opens up on second career as a mortgage advisor after battling way up from non-league

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      TYRONE MINGS never takes being a Premier League footballer for granted – he and his parents know all about the pain of rejection.Though he has reached the pinnacle – as one of almost 1,300 people in 152 years who have represented England at senior level – he remembers what it was like to be at the bottom.Tyrone Mings has revealed he worked in a bar and as a mortgage advisor while working his way up the football pyramidCredit: GettyThe defender suffered a serious injury last year that kept him out for the entire seasonCredit: PAAnd as he makes a slow return to the Aston Villa first team following a horror ACL injury that sidelined him for 14 months, he can take pride in the perseverance he showed during an unorthodox journey.It was 15 years ago that Mings was released by Southampton’s academy as the club struggled financially and slashed their youth budget.From there, he toiled away in the lower depths of the pyramid, earned a scholarship to prestigious Millfield School in Somerset and then paid his way by working in a BAR and as a MORTGAGE ADVISOR.In a new Sky Sports documentary – Chasing the Dream – Mings talks about his background in pubs, offices and non-league dressing rooms.Read More on EnglandHe recalled: “I joined Southampton’s academy at the age of eight, right until 15 or 16. Then got released.“It probably hit my parents harder than me. They were never pushy parents.“But as a parent, you want to see your child fulfil their dreams and be happy. At the time, I was physically weak. But mentally I’ve always been quite strong.“So, I never begrudged the decision they (Southampton) made. I never think they made a mistake.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“My mum wrote to every one of the 72 clubs in the Football league. I got trials at 4-5 different clubs.“Being at Millfield was amazing. I got a mixture of a football scholarship and a bursary. It was really comprehensive.’It felt like the beginning of the end for Harry Kane’ says Man Utd legend as he admits fears for England captain “It put me in some real uncomfortable situations. My family didn’t have much money growing up.“But the wealth at the school meant you had to find something else to make you cool. I always had football.“We trained 4-5 times a week, played once or twice. I probably got a better education than if I had been just at a football club.“I left school and worked in a pub first. Did a bit of labouring. Realised that wasn’t for me. I worked in field sales. Then I went to become a mortgage advisor.”His first Sliding Doors moment came in a charity game aged 18 alongside his dad – Mings played at left-back – when he was spotted by the boss of Yate Town, based in Gloucestershire.Mings recalled: “I had no idea what was going on. The shirt didn’t fit. Shorts didn’t fit.“But playing against seasoned professionals taught me a lot about looking after yourself. I was there for just over a year before I moved to Chippenham Town.”The next pivotal occasion came in a trial game at Ipswich in late 2012 when they were managed by Mick McCarthy – and within days he was moving to Suffolk.Mings, 31, said: “I rocked up with my Chippenham kitbag. They must have thought: ‘Who on earth is this?’“My mentality and the fact I didn’t really care who I was playing alongside – I could hold my own in men’s football – was probably the deciding factor for him signing me.“It all happened within the space of two days. I went from being a mortgage advisor to training with the Ipswich first team.“It was a bit of a whirlwind, the first two years of being a professional footballer.”Mings tells his story to former Stoke boss Tony Pulis, who is raising concerns about the welfare of young academy footballers and the failure rate.An investigation by Sky Sports News claims 1.65m boys play the national sport but less than one per cent make it into a professional club academy.Mings said: “My best piece of advice I’d give is to keep it fun for as long as possible.“Sometimes the pressures of academies, if you aren’t enjoying it, it’s a really tough place to be.READ MORE SUN STORIES“If you love what you do, of course, you’ll be able to get through the tougher times.”Chasing the Dream is available on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Football, with all episodes on demand from Sunday November 24. More

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      Ruben Amorim makes Man Utd transfers vow as new boss wastes no time in stamping authority on new employers

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      RUBEN AMORIM insists he will have the final say on all transfer comings and goings at Man Utd.The new manager held his first press conference today – and wasted no time in stamping his authority on the club.Ruben Amorim has insisted that transfer business in manager’s businessThings haven’t worked out yet for new signing Joshua ZirkzeeAmorim, 39, replaces Erik ten Hag as manager appointed by part owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his new senior management team of Omar Berrada, Sir David Brailsford, Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox.The board have overseen a calamitous summer of bungling in their dealings with former boss Ten Hag and with some questionable recruitment.For example they lumbered Ten Hag with frontman flop Joshua Zirkzee believing he was a good investment when the former boss did not ask for him.But the new man says that he won’t be a pushover.READ MORE ON MAN UTDFormer Sporting Lisbon coach Amorim revealed: “The final word should be the manager’s.“Not just because it’s your right but your responsibility.“Because in the end, the results are down to me. “I have a great responsibility when we choose players because this is something that should be done this way.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“I’m the manager, the head coach, so I have to choose the players.”Amorim insisted the senior management team will have to help him improve the club’s transfer activity but said the buck stops at his desk.Ruben Amorim tells Man Utd fans to expect ‘really hard moments’ as he admits it’s ‘a different world’ to anything before He said: “Everybody has to work together and for that we have to improve the process on recruitment, the data, the profile of players we want, but I have to have a strong position on that because I am the coach, I know how to play.”The new head coach conducted his first press conference as United boss at The Carrington Training Ground.He was full of confidence about how he can be different to David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ten Hag in getting the club right back to where they were under Sir Alex Ferguson.He said: “You had here different type of coaches.“So the guys who won everything like Van Gaal and Mourinho, you had new ones who knew the club inside out like Solskjaer, and one of the best that there will ever be outside the five strongest leagues was Ten Hag.“You have different type of coaches, the same result. We will try to do it our way, the Ineos way, and my way.”The Portuguese is looking forward to the challenge ahead and implementing his philosophy on the team and club as a whole.But the former Sporting Lisbon chief has warned the Old Trafford faithful not to expect him to perform miracles straight away.He said: “It’s Manchester United, you feel the weight of history despite the last few years and you want to be part of it.”The responsibility is enormous. It will be difficult.”There will be very difficult moments, but I really believe we will succeed.”Amorim is ready for all the extra attention and scrutiny which comes with the job.He said: “It’s a different world here. There’s a lot to do.”You’re not just a coach. It’s different, but I’m prepared.”Amorim is United’s SIXTH permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in May 2013.His successors have all FAILED to win the Premier League, although there has been a sprinkling of FA, Europa League and League Cup success.And Amorim is confident he can end the club’s long wait to return to the summit of the English top flight.He said: “Call me naive. But I truly believe I am the right guy in the right moment.”I could be wrong but the world still will turn [and] the sun will rise again, I don’t worry about that.”I truly believe I’m the right guy for this job.“In two years you will understand if I am the right man to be in this process.READ MORE SUN STORIES“In two years you can understand if you want to continue on this path or you want to change.“I know if you are at Manchester United you have to win games, so I will not tell you I need a lot of time.”Ruben Amorim leaves Sporting on a highBy Charlie WyettRUBEN AMORIM would have preferred to leave Lisbon in a blaze of glory after winning a third Primeira Liga title.Yet football does not work like that. And in what was surely his final game before taking charge of Manchester United, Amorim prepared to say his goodbyes at a half-empty Estadio Jose Alvalade in a League Cup quarter-final against Nacional.Sporting won 3-1 thanks to  second-half goals by captain  Morten Hjulmand and Viktor Gyokeres, who scored two.Luis Esteves pulled back for Madeira-based Nacional.The stadium  will be a good deal more lively on Tuesday when Manchester City are here for  a Champions League match — although Amorim should by then have his feet firmly under his desk at Old Trafford.Liverpool and Aston Villa were both interested in Europe’s most sought-after coach. Even City could have been a possible destination post-Pep Guardiola.Yet the United job is one Amorim, 39,  could not turn  down — even if not everyone saw it that way at Sporting last night.There is clearly a huge split in the Portuguese club’s fan base over their coach leaving at this stage of the season with many believing he should have seen the job through.Yet Amorim, along with the three-man coaching team who are expected to follow him, leaves a club in a much better state than when he arrived here in 2020.Inside the stadium, there was applause — albeit muted — when his name was read out before the game along with the line-ups.And there did not appear to be any jeers when Amorim shuffled out from the tunnel awkwardly towards the dugout.So, while his departure is hard to take for some, none of the fans will forget his legacy.This is a club which is back as the dominant force in Portugal. Even this term, Sporting have won their first nine league games, scoring 30 goals and conceding just two.They are also eighth in the Champions League table, which is one hell of an effort.In contrast, Lisbon was not exactly hit by League Cup fever last night.Amorim made lots of changes, which saw Sporting’s star man Gyokeres, the former Coventry striker, start on the bench.There was, however, a first appearance in six weeks for former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards. He is certainly one player who has been transformed by Amorim since arriving at the club from Vitoria in 2022 and will be sorry to see the coach leave.While he changed his team, Amorim stuck with his tried and trusted formation of a back three.It will certainly be something Manchester United’s fans will have to get used to over the  coming months.But looking at the Premier League table, none of them will be complaining about the change. More

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      Ruben Amorim tells Man Utd chiefs: Give me two years then decide if I’m the right man for the job

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      RUBEN AMORIM insists if he has not proved himself in two years he should leave Manchester United.The new Red Devils boss says he is “the right guy” for the task at hand at Old Trafford.Ruben Amorim is the sixth new Manchester United manager in 11 yearsCredit: GettyBut as he became United’s sixth new boss in 11 years, the Portuguese said the club can decide whether he is or not in a couple of years.Amorim said: “In two years you will understand if I am the right man to be in this process.“In two years you can understand if you want to continue on this path or you want to change.“I know if you are at Manchester United you have to win games, so I will not tell you I need a lot of time.”READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe former Sporting Lisbon coach, however, believes the club will soon realise they have made the correct choice.While he did not quite quote his mentor Jose Mourinho by calling himself ‘The Special One’ he was not far off and says this is not the impossible job.He said: “Call me naïve but I believe I am the right guy in the right moment. I truly believe I am the right guy.“I am a little bit a dreamer and I believe in myself and I believe in the club.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“I think we have the same idea, the same mindset and that can help.“I truly believe in the players also. I think we have room to improve and I want to try new things.Ruben Amorim takes charge of first Man Utd training session“You guys think it is not possible, I think it is possible.”Amorim takes charge of his first game as the new United boss on Sunday away to Ipswich.And ahead of the clash, he also warned his Red Devils fans to expect some turbulence during his era.Amorim added: “It’s Manchester United, you feel the weight of history despite the last few years and you want to be part of it.”If you win here, it will be different from any other club in England.”The responsibility is enormous. It will be difficult.”There will be very difficult moments, but I really believe we will succeed.”Amorim will oversee his first match in charge on Sunday at IpswichCredit: GettyThe new boss says he needs two years to be judged on his performanceCredit: Getty More