Ruben Amorim: New Manchester United boss' point of difference ...

Published 23/11/2024 at 13:44 GMT

Ruben Amorim will get the "perfect introduction" to the Premier League as the new Manchester United manager when he takes his side to face Ipswich Town, reckons Joe Cole.

The Portuguese coach has arrived at Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon following the sacking of former boss Erik ten Hag last month.

The Red Devils are 13th in the Premier League table ahead of their trip to Portman Road to face The Tractor Boys on Sunday afternoon.

"I think this is a real, real challenge for him [Amorim] in his first game," said Cole. "This is almost like the perfect introduction to the Premier League.

"It's Ipswich, a team you are expected to win [against], and they are a very, very good side.

"They have just gone to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and won."

Ipswich secured their first league win of the season before the international break with a 2-1 triumph over Spurs.

Cole had a word of warning for United fans, suggesting that there were similar levels of excitement when Ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford.

"Listen, we talked about it last week, all the things that are being said about Ruben Amorim were being said about Erik ten Hag when he came through the door," added Cole.

"Time will tell, but what I think this guy has got and having listened to him speak, he has got that charisma. You need it if you are going to go to Manchester United.

"You have got to plant your feet if you are Manchester United manager because the eyes of the world will be on you. I think he has got that."

Cole's fellow TNT Sports expert Lucy Ward believes that Amorim will benefit from working under United's sporting director Dan Ashworth.

"He [Amorim] needs to sort the physicality out because what Manchester United do is they struggle when they lose possession," said Ward.

"He will be playing a back three, I suspect, which means the centre-backs will be a lot more protected.

"I think the key thing about it is he has a sporting structure around him that the other managers did not have.

"He has got a sporting director, he has got a lot of people above him and he is the head coach.

"I think that is probably the biggest positive, that he is working under that."

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