Ruben Amorim's warning to FIVE Manchester United players during first interview as new boss
Ruben Amorim has made clear his expectations of the young players at Manchester United - the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho - as he begins work at Old Trafford
by Samuel Meade · The MirrorRuben Amorim insists Manchester United's crop of young stars cannot use their age as an excuse - adamant they must be prepared for the demands they'll face.
The new manager has begun work this week and inherits a group that features a number of underperforming stars - but also several individuals who are tipped to have bright futures. Kobbie Mainoo enjoyed a breakout year last term whilst Alejandro Garnacho has become increasingly influential.
Amad Diallo has begun to show his quality whilst Leny Yoro was a statement signing from Lille in the summer - but the young defender is yet to play competitively for his new club.
Amorim has spent his early days getting a lay of the land in Manchester and has been asked directly about five of his players – Mainoo, Garnacho, Diallo, Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund – with the interviewer pointing out the "excitement" at the club over their collective potential.
The former Sporting Lisbon boss though insists their age will have no bearing on what is expected of them. He told MUTV: "I don’t want to say that we need time because we are a young team. They are prepared. They are prepared to cope with the demands of playing for Manchester United. They should be because they are here.
"We know it will take time and we will try to win time with the games. But we have to start since day one without fear, without thinking that they are not used to playing like this. This is not on my mind. They will start on the first day with our idea, no matter what. That’s the goal."
Amorim helped a number of young players flourish when he was in charge at Lisbon. He arrives into Manchester as a two-time league winner as a manager and knows the end goal is to replicate that with the Red Devils.
The new man in Manchester insists his immediate priority is to implement a style of play - something that was long held against Erik ten Hag throughout his tenure - with wins hopefully buying him time to do so.
“We know that we need time, but we have to win time," he said. "To win time is to win games. But the most important thing for me is identity. So since day one we will start with our identity. Of course we are going to prepare the games, but we will focus a lot in our game model. How to play, how to press, these small things, small details."
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