Ruben Amorim exclusive: Manchester United incoming boss on 'worst and best week of my life', 'focus' on Manchester City

Incoming Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has described the past seven days as the "worst and best week of my life", as he prepares for his last UEFA Champions League tie in charge of Sporting CP against soon-to-be rivals Manchester City. Amorim will take the reins at United on November 11, after being announced as Erik ten Hag's permanent successor.

‘I chose my path’ – Amorim on ‘worst and best week of my life’ as Man Utd move confirmed

Video credit: TNT Sports

Ruben Amorim has said the past seven days have been the "worst and best week of my life", after the Sporting CP boss was confirmed to be Erik ten Hag's successor at Manchester United.

Amorim will start his managerial reign at Old Trafford on November 11, and the incoming United boss will lead the Portuguese champions in front of their home crowd for the final time in Tuesday's UEFA Champions League clash with Manchester City - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

And the 39-year-old, who has won two Primeira Liga titles in charge of Sporting, opened up on the "tough" and "emotional" process, but is excited to soon be in charge of "one of the best clubs in the world".

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"Very tough," Amorim told TNT Sports. "The worst and best week of my life. I don’t have another way to explain [it]. Very tough because I’m leaving a very good place, but I’m going to one of the best clubs in the world. So it’s been very tough, but it is what it is."

He added: "I’m emotional but not in this part. I know because I was a player and I know in our life we have to leave, to go, change our environment quite often.

"But I’m very emotional in my relationship with the players and staff. So I have a connection with them. That part will be tough, but the other part - the last game, everybody’s looking at me. In the end that part is not special for me.

Amorim: It’s been very tough but I’m going to one of the best clubs in the world

Video credit: TNT Sports

"For me, it’s the relationship with the players and in that part I’m very emotional. The part of leaving and going to another place is the life of a player and a coach."

Amorim is under no illusions as to how challenging life in the Premier League is soon to be, and the Sporting boss said he will be venturing into a "different world" with United.

But he is excited to test himself against the "best coaches" in the English top-flight, saying the added challenge is what he needs at this stage in his managerial career.

‘I need that as a coach’ – Amorim relishing challenge of ‘different world’ in Premier League

Video credit: TNT Sports

When asked if he is looking forward to facing world-class coaches such as City's Pep Guardiola more often, Amorim replied: "It’s tough to say that. It’s very challenging. In England all the best coaches are there, all the best teams.

"It’s going to be a different world, because in Portugal you have the three big teams and then a lot of weeks tough games, but you control the games.

"There is a different world, I need that as a coach now. To say I’m looking for a challenge like that every week, maybe not."

Sporting's backroom team have been split between Manchester allegiances, with Amorim heading to Old Trafford next week while director of football Hugo Viana is joining City at the end of the 2024/25 season.

Viana's move had initially sparked speculation over Amorim potentially joining him at the Etihad, but the Sporting boss said "my path is Manchester United".

"We will be friends until the end, but I have my way," he said. "I choose Manchester United.

"Manchester United is my club, Manchester City is his club. So it’s going to be fun. I hope to help Manchester United to improve and he will do the same.

"It’s hard to improve Manchester City at the moment but I chose my path."

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PEP IS 'THE BEST COACH IN THE WORLD'

Sporting have gone from strength to strength under the guidance of the incoming United boss, and have made an unbeaten start to their 2024/25 Champions League campaign - but face the toughest of tests as Amorim squares up against his soon-to-be Manchester counterpart in the dugout.

But the Sporting boss is not attaching any added meaning to the European clash, with the challenge of facing "the best coach in the world" Guardiola his primary focus.

"For me it’s another game as Sporting coach," he said. "I will be judged as a Sporting coach. It’s a massive game for me, he’s the best coach in the world. I know it’s tough for Manchester United fans and I think it’s the best team in the world.

"So it’s going to be a tough game. We are near the qualification for the play-off, so this game is very important. It’s my last game in Alvalade so that is my focus. The objectives of Sporting, my last game in Alvalade.

"I know everybody in England are looking and taking ideas for this game. For me it’s just that, as Sporting coach, my last game here so that is my focus."

‘Best coach in the world’ – Amorim on ‘massive’ challenge of facing Guardiola’s Man City

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Amorim understands that his final Champions League tie in charge of Sporting will attract a lot of English interest, but he maintained that he is "more worried" about winning than trying to "show something to English fans and media".

He said: "I’m more worried about my players to feel comfortable to play football, to win the game than to show something to English fans and English media.

"My focus is on my players, we have the talent to play well but they have to feel comfortable. That is my focus.

"I understand that it’s going to have a lot of people judging my team and judging my work in only one game. I know that but I’m not thinking about it. Of course I want a team that can control the ball, play without fear but we will see tomorrow.

"I think now is better because last week, they [Sporting players] didn’t know if I am here to play this game, now they feel that I’m going to stay for this game they are more comfortable.

"It has been tough, I feel it in the dressing room, I feel it on the pitch. So that part is going to be emotional but I hope they have fun in the game, play very well and I hope to win the game."

Amorim declares ‘Manchester United is my club’ and targets improvement of English giants

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Sporting sit eighth in the 36-team Champions League table, matching City's seven points from their opening three matches in the competition.

The incoming United boss has also led the Primeira Liga side to 14 victories from their last 15 matches.

TNT Sports will show over 500 matches from the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League across the 2024/25 season. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.

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