In a 25-minute, wide-ranging interview at Chicago Fire’s training ground, Amorim covered a range of topics, including:
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How he is changing the culture at United
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His relationship with minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe
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His belief the club will eventually win the biggest trophies again
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His dream of staying in the job for 20 years
During last season’s dark days, Amorim was repeatedly criticised for refusing to tweak his tactical approach.
“Sometimes, when you are losing, you might think let’s change the standards a little bit for them [the players] to be with me,” he said.
“I didn’t – and they saw it. Now they understand when I say something, I will do it.
“I don’t treat the players as babies. But they have rules now and that can change the way you train.
“I’m always on top. If you don’t train in the right way, I have footage to show you. And I show you in front of everybody.”
Amorim has appointed a leadership group of six players – Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Tom Heaton, Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui – to uphold standards in the dressing room and deal with the “small things”.
It has not been easy to get to this point.
Amorim admits there were times last season when he wavered and wondered if he had done the right thing leaving Portuguese club Sporting – where he had built his reputation and where he was feted as a hero – mid-season.
He did not go seeking out assurances. For Amorim, keeping his job says enough.
“Try to remember one team, one big team that lost so many games and the manager kept their job,” he said.
“You will not find it. That shows more than words that they support me.”
