Amorim braced for tough challenge at Man United: 'I'm not naive'

New Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is prepared for a "very difficult" challenge at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese boss officially starts his role at United this week. He inherits a team that's positioned 13th in the Premier League - but only four points adrift of third-place Chelsea - and that has recorded three draws and just one win in the opening round of the Europa League.

United have the record number of English titles with 20 but haven't finished atop the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson's final season at the helm in 2012-13. Amorim is the sixth full-time boss hired in Stretford since Ferguson relinquished the reins.

"I feel ready for the new challenge," he told reporters after ending his Sporting CP tenure Sunday with a 4-2 comeback victory at Braga, as quoted by Reuters.

"I'm not naive, I know it's going to be very different, very difficult. I'm at peace now, I can focus on my new job and I'm looking forward to starting tomorrow."

Amorim joins United after breaking the Benfica-Porto duopoly in Portugal. He delivered Sporting their first top-flight title since 2002 in the 2020-21 campaign and followed that up with another Primeira Liga crown last season. He's also won three Taca da Ligas as a coach: one with Braga and two with Sporting.

Sporting currently hold a six-point lead over Porto at the Primeira Liga summit. They've won every game this season and last tasted defeat in the league in December 2023.

"I know it will be difficult to reproduce what I have here elsewhere, but there are other places with different exposure and pressure ... It's been a fantastic adventure," Amorim said.

"I apologize for this midseason decision, but I felt it was my time and my way."

Amorim already endeared himself to Manchester United fans when Sporting trounced Manchester City in the Champions League with a 4-1 win last Tuesday. To add extra intrigue to the clubs' rivalry in the north-west, another architect of Sporting's recent success, sporting director Hugo Viana, officially swaps the Estadio Jose Alvalade for Manchester City's Etihad Stadium at the end of the season.

Amorim's first match in charge of United is set to be a trip to Ipswich Town on Nov. 24 following the international break.