Premier League

RUBEN AMORIM believes it is difficult to turn things around at Manchester United as there are deep scars in the team.United have endured a nightmare campaign, with Amorim unable to change the club’s fortunes since being appointed manager.Ruben Amorim believes there are ‘scars’ in the Man Utd teamCredit: Sky SportsUnited have won just ten out of 25 game since Amorim took chargeCredit: AlamyAmorim has won just ten of his 25 games in charge and he feels there is not a quick fix to the issues at the club.He told Sky Sports: “To tell you the truth, I feel sometimes there are scars in our team, in our players.“They are good players, but they (scars) are so deep, they are so long here that it is hard to change things in one moment.“Some players had one coach and then comes a new coach, new hope, new momentum and then we go to the same place.READ MORE ON MAN UTD“Imagine this for any person, in any job. Imagine this as a player, with all the media and social media. So it’s really hard to turn things around just like that.”United go into the home clash with Arsenal marooned in the bottom half of the Premier League table after just six victories — and eight defeats — in 18 top-flight matches on his watch.Amorim, 40, openly admits to making mistakes — particularly in his handling of relationships with staff outside the dressing room.He said: “When you are a player you just focus on you but when you are a manager you have to focus on a lot of people, not just the players but all the staff.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS“All the staff are paying attention to you so you have to pay attention to that, and that is something that I didn’t do very well in the beginning here in Manchester because I was focused on the games.“At the moment I am starting to get a really good connection with all the staff and the players.” More

IN 20 years of taking teams to Old Trafford, there was one thing I never worked out — how come it was always the longest game of the season?Not just a few minutes of Fergie time, either. Some afternoons I’d sit in the dugout for what seemed like hours.Bruno Fernandes has been a shining light for Manchester United this seasonCredit: RexBut Harry Redknapp claims he would be handing out bibs to his team-mates if he was in Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man Utd squadCredit: RexThat’s how it felt back then, anyway, when a trip to Manchester United pretty much meant respectability at best.These days there isn’t a side in the Premier League who goes to Old Trafford and doesn’t believe they can’t win.Seven have done so already. United have lost more than they’ve won — when Sir Alex Ferguson was manager, two home defeats meant a crisis.United were the best team in the country — Sir Alex built a few of them, too — and if they were on it,  you were in for it.READ MORE MAN UTD NEWSThere were days, after we had conceded an early goal, and I’d think, “My God, this is going to be a long, long afternoon”.Sir Alex had stars coming out of his ears, you didn’t only have to stop one or two. Never mind the Red Devils, it was more like the Red Arrows.You were bombarded with pace down either wing, crosses were flying in, incredible movement, goals everywhere. United could run all over anyone.People rave about what Pep Guardiola has done at City but when United were on their game, they were just as good  — believe me.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSSome of the football they played under Sir Alex was out of this world . . . yet you don’t admire it quite so much when you’re in the opposition dugout!I’d be praying for the ref to blow his whistle as soon as possible — thinking, “Let’s get out of here as quickly as possible with a bit of pride intact”.One of football’s greatest commentators – Barry Davies – set to be inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of FameI lost every league game as boss of West Ham, Tottenham, Portsmouth twice and finally QPR. And I’m not the only one by any means.Mind you, I do know what it feels like to be a winning manager at Old Trafford . . . and, no, I’m not talking  Soccer Aid, but two FA Cup ties remembered for very different reasons.The first was with West Ham in 2001, when Paolo Di Canio scored the winner as Fabian Barthez stood appealing for offside.Keeper Barthez was trying to con Paolo into turning to look at the ref, then he’d dive on the ball. But he didn’t fall for it and carried on to stick it in the corner instead.Paolo di Canio scored an infamous goal against Manchester United in 2001Credit: PA:Press AssociationSulley Muntari helped Portsmouth beat the Red Devils in 2008Credit: AP:Associated PressPortsmouth’s win in 2008 caused even more controversy when Sulley Muntari scored the winner past Rio Ferdinand because Tomasz Kuszczak had been sent off.Kuszczak had replaced Edwin van der Sar at half-time, leaving United without a keeper when he got the red card for his foul on Milan Baros.Rio Ferdinand took the gloves — quite ironic seeing his boy is a keeper on Brighton’s books now — but Muntari put us in the semis.Sir Alex was very, very down after that because he had his eyes on another Treble. At least he can say United lost to the losers, because we went on to win the Cup that year!But every other trip ended in defeat. There were even sides who effectively lost before they left the tunnel.You’d hope the team talk would give them a bit of belief, and then David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes or one of the others would blow it away in minutes.Players have always gone on about making their ground a fortress but Old Trafford was the strongest of all.There was a genuine fear about going there . . . now the only ones it strikes terror into are those in red shirts.In Fergie’s era teams went to United hoping for a point. These days many are actually expecting a win — Arsenal certainly will be on Sunday.After seven Champions League goals away from home in midweek, why wouldn’t they?Imagine how many they’d have got if all their strikers were fit!United can’t stick the ball in the net even when they are. They are so far behind the top teams, it’s frightening.I like manager Ruben Amorim but it will take years to turn them around . . . if it can be done at all. It has become a great club in name only.You’d look at the United of Fergie’s day and see superstars everywhere. Amorim would love just one.Bruno Fernandes is the closest and even then no more than a place in the squad. He wouldn’t have a prayer of making the team.Who would you drop? Giggs, Scholes, Beckham, Roy Keane, Paul Ince, even Nicky Butt or Darren Fletcher? Not a chance.READ MORE SUN STORIESIf Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struggled to get a game,  Fernandes wouldn’t get beyond putting the cones down and handing out bibs.And I tell you what — if Bruno and Co had been at United when I was managing, I’d know all about winning at Old Trafford. More

RUBEN AMORIM is bewildered by Manchester United fans telling him he is doing a GOOD job.Amorim gave a telling insight into his troubled reign at Old Trafford when asked what is the most common thing Red Devils supporters say when they meet him.Ruben Amorim finds the support from Man Utd ‘strange’ considering the resultsCredit: GettyThe Portuguese almost laughed at himself and revealed: “They say one thing that is really strange for me: ‘You are doing a good job.’“It is so hard to understand sometimes. It’s really important for me.”Amorim appreciates the support of the United faithful so much because he knows that his four months in the job cannot be considered a success at all.United go into the home clash with Arsenal marooned in the bottom half of the Premier League table after just six victories — and eight defeats — in 18 top-flight matches on his watch.READ MORE ON MAN UTDAmorim, 40, openly admits to making mistakes — particularly in his handling of relationships with staff outside the dressing room. He told TNT Sports: “When you are a player you just focus on you but when you are a manager you have to focus on a lot of people, not just the players but all the staff.“All the staff are paying attention to you so you have to pay attention to that, and that is something that I didn’t do very well in the beginning here in Manchester because I was focused on the games.“At the moment I am starting to get a really good connection with all the staff and the players.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSWell, all the staff that are still there after owners Ineos confirmed 200 more redundancies in the latest round of savage cost-cutting.Amorim won respect from some non-football staff for saying that it was ultimately United’s struggles on the pitch that were responsible for people losing their jobs.Ruben Amorim says Man Utd must make more of opportunities after draw with Real Sociedad But some inside the dressing room were said to be less impressed about being called out by the new boss and the shadow of United’s incredible success under Sir Alex Ferguson hangs over Amorim —  just like all those who have tried to follow in the legend’s footsteps.Amorim revealed Fergie has been in touch, saying: “He already called me to give me some advice.”The United boss also said he would consider altering his pre-match routine of handing a water bottle to his assistant in a bid to inspire a change in fortune.Amorim added: “This is the time to change things, when you are not winning too much.”Friends of Amorim sometimes feel that he offers too much of himself in interviews and press conferences.And his answers to a quick-fire set of questions provided more  revelations than you would normally expect.The biggest message that came through was how grateful Amorim is  for the fans continuing to believe in him when it seems as though he is doubting himself.He said: “The way they support us, even when you are losing, in the bad moments, that is the most special thing.”Amorim was a champion of Portugal both as a player at Benfica and as a coach with their Lisbon rivals, Sporting.READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd he longs for the day when United fans can sing his favourite chant, their version of a John Denver classic, in celebration of  winning their first Premier League crown since Fergie left in 2013.Amorim said: “[Take Me Home,] Country Roads that they adapt is perfect. I really dream to win the title and listen to that song at Old Trafford.” More