Ruben Amorim has promised to end the ‘soap opera’ over his appointment as Manchester United’s new manager on Friday night.
Although the Sporting Lisbon boss will be confirmed as Erik ten Hag’s successor at Old Trafford, he is expected to stay in charge of the Portuguese club for another three games – including the Champions League clash with Manchester City on Tuesday.
Now Amorim has vowed to end the uncertainty over his future after Friday’s game against Estrela da Amadora, hinting heavily that he wants to prove himself in the Premier League.
‘It’s a negotiation between two clubs, which isn’t easy,’ he said on Thursday. ‘After the game we’ll have all these clarifications. Then the decision will be known. Soon the soap opera will end.
‘I know (United’s) result (against Leicester), but yesterday I watched Estrela Amadora and I also watched Man City (against Tottenham) although there were a lot of changes and it’s not possible to make an assessment for the Champions League game.’
Asked what he likes about the Premier League, Amorim added: ‘Everything. I think that in everyone’s life there are times when we’re doing really well, but then we want something more, maybe to prove something more.’
He admitted that United’s pursuit has caused disruption in the Sporting dressing-room, adding: ‘Talking now is just another destabilisation for the squad.
‘I could have said that the atmosphere was good and that nobody reads the news, but I know the players feel anxious.
‘There was no revolt at all. I know my players and I am honest with you when I say that they were not normal. I could see that they were nervous about the news, with a series of difficult games coming up.
‘There was no revolt and I did not need (captain) Morten (Hjulmand) to hold his team-mates back.’
Amorim is set to sign a two-and-half-year deal at Old Trafford with the option of another year after United agreed to pay Sporting £9.2m to release the 39-year-old from his contract and have him in place for the start of the international break on November 10.
Amorim indicated that he will be looking to bring his assistants Carlos Fernandes, Adelio Candido and Emanuel Ferro to Old Trafford as well as goalkeeper coach Jorge Vital and sports scientist Paulo Barreira.
‘I think all coaches need (a good backroom staff),’ he said. ‘I don’t want to go into too much detail. That was one of the reasons I always wanted to stay here – it was the people I work with.’
The delay in Amorim’s arrival means Ruud van Nistelrooy is set to stay in charge of United for another three games after stepping in as caretaker boss in the wake of Ten Hag’s sacking on Monday.
Van Nistelrooy insisted that he wants to stay on at United after the new manager is appointed after signing a two-year contract in the summer.
‘It’s going to be a short job as an interim, that was communicated very clear and I was happy with that,’ said the Dutchman.
‘I came as an assistant to help the club forward and I’m still motivated to do so in any capacity, that’s my absolute goal. I go back to my assistant contract that I have here for this season and next.
‘We will see but it’s a contract situation I’m in. I can speak to you about my side of the story, and after that when a new manager is signing and conversations take place, we have to see how things develop.’
