Ruben Amorim has been backed to succeed at Manchester United by one of the club’s star players after he was officially confirmed as the club’s new head coach on Friday.
Following days of negotiations with Sporting Lisbon over Amorim’s release clause and notice period, United have finally got their man, four days after sacking Erik ten Hag.
Amorim has signed a two-and-a-half year deal and will take over at Old Trafford on November 11, as he is staying at Sporting for their next three games to see the club through to the international break.
Diogo Dalot was the first United player to react to Amorim’s appointment, and he is convinced his fellow countryman has the skillset to take the Premier League by storm.
‘He’s obviously a fantastic coach,’ Dalot told Sky Sports. ‘A young mentality, but at the same time he knows what he wants. Very demanding, that’s what I can expect, and I think that’s a perfect match for a club like this.
Ruben Amorim has been appointed Manchester United’s new permanent head coach
Diogo Dalot (left) feels United have made the ‘perfect’ appointment by bringing in Amorim
Amorim replaces Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman was sacked on Monday
‘He is a person that you can see has really high standards and he stands by them so I hope that can be a really good match and that we can win together. That’s what I wish the most.’
Amorim has never coached outside of Portugal before, but will arrive in England with a strong reputation after leading Sporting to two league titles in the last four seasons.
Dalot conceded Amorim will be under more pressure than ever before, but feels the 39-year-old will be able to cope, and has called on his team-mates to rally around their new boss.
He added: ‘I think the Premier League really suits. People from Portugal, we have this culture of always trying to improve ourselves, to fight for a place because we come from a small country.
‘It’s been all through the years, Portuguese, not just managers but players also, coming through the Premier League and coming to England and being successful. I would really hope that it’s one more case and I’m really excited to start working with him.
‘He comes from a big club in Portugal, but I always say it almost quadruples the amount of exposure, the amount of intensity, the amount of pressure. But, in Sporting he was more than able to deal with it, so I’m sure that he will be able to deal with that. We are going to be a team.’
Amorim will get to work at Carrington in 10 days’ time when the international break gets underway, and will have the best part of two weeks to work with his squad ahead of his first game.
His opening assignment will be a trip to Ipswich, followed by a Europa League clash with Bodo/Glimt and a home match with Everton all in the space of seven days.