Ruben Amorim ‘appears like Erik ten Hag’ – Man Utd missed out on ‘proper’ boss says membership icon

Paul Scholes believes Manchester United should have appointed Thomas Tuchel as manager when they had the chance.

United sacked Erik ten Hag this week and look set to appoint Sporting CP boss Bruno Amorim as his replacement. The Red Devils are close to finalising a long-term deal with Amorim, who could be in charge for the team’s visit of Chelsea this weekend.

But United legend Scholes admits he would have preferred to see Tuchel appointed. The club’s co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe spoke to Tuchel last season, but no deal could be agreed.

And Scholes admits giving the job to Amorim has the same feel to it as when United appointed Ten Hag back in 2022. Speaking to Sky Bet’s ‘The Overlap Fan Debate’, Scholes said: “I think Thomas Tuchel was the right one to coach Manchester United, but obviously he’s gone now with England.

“He’s someone that can manage an elite football club and win big games. He’s been there and done it. I agree on Rúben Amorim – it [the hype] feels a bit like Erik ten Hag [when he joined Manchester United].

“He’s coming from the Portuguese league, which is a bit better than the Dutch league. What he’s done there has been good. He looks charismatic, and that he has a bit about him.

“I know he’s meant to sign in the coming days and hours, but Sporting play Manchester City next week, and Arsenal in the next three or four weeks. It might be a chance to give him a public interview, and see how he handles the media, see how his team plays.

“In England, we don’t watch a lot of Portuguese football, so we don’t know too much. We see them a bit in European football, and all the things we hear about him are good – exciting football, three at the back and possession based – something United don’t really do.

“If he comes in to do that, it could be exciting.”