Ruben Amorim conducted his first sit-down as Man United manager with nine journalists on the pre-season tour.
Samuel joined the Manchester Evening News in 2014 and is the Chief Manchester United writer. He has broken exclusives on Jose Mourinho’s appointment, the re-signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking, the club’s interest in Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag, as well as numerous other transfers and team news. He has represented the MEN on the BBC, Sky News, Sky Sports News, TalkSport, Radio 5 Live, CNN and various other media outlets worldwide.
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Amorim spoke to the dedicated United correspondents on Friday
Manchester United open the doors to their new first team building at Carrington on Friday. We shall see whether they have replicated the Chicago Fire’s press conference room set-up.
At the Fire’s plush Endeavor Health Performance Center, the proximity of the media room is canny, situated to the right of reception. Even one of the MLS’s consistently low-ranking teams who share their name with a TV series are quick to show the media to the door.
Upon our arrival on Friday, we gave our name at reception and obtained a lanyard. Then we were requested to wait in that room while Ruben Amorim completed another media engagement on camera. “Arrange it however you want,” the United press officer breezily suggested.
Chairs were laid out in orderly rows, as is custom for a press conference. Settling with a press conference-style format would have ensured Amorim had a more comfortable and cushioned seat on the dais but this was a more intimate setting and his first interview sans cameras.
Forming a circle seemed sensible. This worked with Erik ten Hag at AAMI Park in Melbourne in 2022. Our expectations for that sit-down were low, going off his succinct press conference unveiling at Old Trafford. Ten Hag turned out to be terrific value.
He was undeniably more relaxed without cameras present. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer quipped how much he enjoyed the sit-down in Perth on his only pre-season tour in 2019 as the only devices visible were dictaphones.
Myself and a colleague did a careful head count in the Chicago press room: eight journalists and one manager. So we assembled the correct number of chairs and awaited Amorim’s arrival.
He strode in around ten minutes later, flanked by three officials from the communications department and a security staff member. Amorim was in his tour training regalia: tight black tracksuit bottoms and a purple Adidas training shirt. The initials ‘RA’ are even affixed to Amorim’s box-fresh white trainers.
There was the familiar, “Hi guys” when Amorim entered and he shook hands with everyone. We expressed gratitude for him giving up his time. Amorim cheerfully assured us it was “a pleasure”. That was a first with a United manager.
At AAMI Park, we had 25 minutes with Ten Hag. We had 18 with Amorim. But you do not need 20 minutes with Amorim.
Amorim in Chicago
One of the longest-serving stalwarts of the Manchester pack insisted it was the best of all of the managerial sit-downs he had been present for. That dates back to Sir Alex Ferguson’s era.
One could have feasibly written up lines well into double figures:
“No bulls**t” with RatcliffeNew rules for the playersTelling them if they’ve trained badly in front of teammatesThe new leadership groupMbeumo and Cunha joining not because of the managerWhen Mbeumo will playWhy it didn’t work with GarnachoSeeking more signingsHow Mainoo is going to improveTargeting EuropeWas he going to walk away?
Our interview was pooled with the broadcasters’ chat with Amorim, when he candidly admitted he dreaded travelling to certain games last season and was targeting a 20-year stint managing United. More work.
That warmth that Amorim exudes is as hot as the Chicago weather. He stressed on the post-season tour he did not feel the need to disconnect in the close season and his mood is as sunny as it was during those torturous weeks last season. That is some going when United literally could not string two Premier League wins together and went eight league fixtures without victory in April and May.
Once the questions were underway, the first word Amorim used was “confident”. Amorim feels emboldened by the backing he has received from the United hierarchy and the harmony he has restored during pre-season has been well received by the players. A dressing room source said there is a “much better feel” in the happy camp.
It was such an optimistic chat that no members of the bomb squad were mentioned until the final question. Once Amorim had said his piece, he expressed his gratitude and was in such a chipper mood he bade farewell by clasping hands until one of the more traditional hacks caused him to switch to a handshake.
Amorim headed out of the door, flanked by United staff. The doors will soon be reopening at Carrington.
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