Manchester United fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Erik ten Hag’s successor, Ruben Amorim.
The new head coach agreed to his two-and-a-half-year deal with the Red Devils last week before agreeing to complete a notice period with Sporting Lisbon. As a result, his Old Trafford arrival was delayed until the international break.
It meant that the United faithful could enjoy three more matches with Ruud van Nistelrooy in the dugout and, for Amorim, that he could take charge of his final games for Sporting, which included last night’s Champions League tie with Manchester City.
Supporters watched on to see how he fared in the dugout against their Manchester derby rivals and were left thoroughly impressed at how his side attacked the game, ultimately claiming a 4-1 victory on home soil. United target Viktor Gyokeres was influential throughout and was even able to take home the match ball after his hat-trick efforts helped seal the win.
Ferdinand: Only Bruno Fernandes can hold his head high
Ahead of kick-off, when analysing Amorim’s impending move, Rio Ferdinand shared his verdict on the United squad’s reaction to working under a new man.
“These players are in a desperate state,” he told the TNT Sports panel. “We’ve been in changing rooms where things aren’t going well. You’re clutching at straws and clinging to any type of positivity.
“A new manager comes in now with the reputation he’s got. These players have not performed for a long period of time.
“There might have been the odd performance here or there, but [doing it] consistently is what delivers trophies over a sustained period of time. None of them can sit there and say they’ve done that.”
“Bruno [Fernandes] is the only one probably close,” the former defender continued. “But all the others will be sitting there saying, ‘Please bring some performances out of myself, help me to become the player that everyone thinks I can be, that my potential suggests I can be because right now I am not delivering.’
“If they’re honest about it, that’s what they’ll be saying – hands out saying, Please pull me along.”
