Ruud van Nistelrooy has done a great job of stabilising things as Manchester United's interim manager, with Erik ten Hag having been sacked and Amorim will now inherit a much more settled squad than he had two weeks ago.
Amorim has decided not to keep Van Nistelrooy on his backroom staff. The Dutchman's departure was confirmed hours after Amorim arrived at Carrington for the first time as head coach.
The Portuguese tactician is still waiting for a work permit, but that won't stop him from going to Carrington and holding meetings. However, there are still other issues at Old Trafford that Amorim must address.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, the Man United shirt has become too heavy, hampering results and turning world-class players into failures. Addressing this and the seemingly toxic environment around Old Trafford must be Amorim’s top priority.
His record at Sporting suggests Amorim has the skills for the job, having stabilised the club after years of turmoil. However, at Old Trafford the challenge will be multiplied. Many coaches more experienced than the 39-year-old have tried and failed.
Amorim has handled the media scrutiny since his appointment to the Man United hot seat relatively well. Despite his awkward mid-season departure from Sporting, Amorim has remained cheerful and well-connected with the media. The 39-year-old seems to be a public figure.
Amorim needs to immediately stabilise the Red Devils' dressing room and find the right balance. In particular, restoring confidence while still having the authority to set his own rules. That is the key to Amorim's success or failure at Old Trafford.
In reality, Man United’s squad is still too problematic to compete for major trophies. However, with the right approach, as seen under Van Nistelrooy, performance can improve significantly. The club’s new board have spent over £200 million on upgrading the squad and they want to see a further breakthrough.
In a statement after taking the job at Man United, Amorim said: "I feel ready for the new challenge. I'm not naive, I know everything will be very different and very difficult. But that's inevitable."
