After being named the new head coach of Manchester United, departing Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim said that the past week has been “very tough.”
After Man United decided to fire Erik ten Hag on October 28, Amorim became the club’s top managerial target.
On Friday, Man United declared that Amorim would take over as head coach following an agreement with Sporting to pay €11 million (£9.2 million).
Amorim will stay at Sporting until he formally joins the Red Devils on November 11th, even though he was named Man United’s new manager.
Before Sporting defeated Estrela Amadora 5-1 at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Friday night, Amorim was given a standing ovation.
Amorim talks about a challenging week.
But a poster outside the stadium that said, “Amorim, this is no longer your home, thank you!!” also featured the Sporting manager.
The 39-year-old is currently getting ready for his last home match as Sporting’s manager, as his team will play Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Despite accepting a position with “one of the best clubs in the world,” Amorim acknowledged ahead of the competition that it had been a week filled with conflicting feelings.
“[It’s been] really difficult,” Amorim said to TNT Sports. It was both my best and worst week ever. There is no other way for me to explain.
“It’s been really difficult because I’m leaving a great place, but I’m going to one of the best clubs in the world, so it’s just what it is.”
Amorim talks about Viana’s companionship
Hugo Viana is expected to resign from his job as sporting director to take up the same position at Manchester City next summer, thus Amorim is not the only important player leaving Sporting for Manchester.
After they developed a fruitful friendship while playing for the Portuguese powerhouses, Amorim maintains that he will stay friends with Viana despite the rivalry between the two Manchester clubs.
Amorim went on to say: “We will always be friends, but I got what I wanted and I choose Manchester United, which is my club and Manchester City is his.
It will be enjoyable, and I aim to help Man United get better while he does the same.Right now, Man City is difficult to enhance! Man United is the road I have chosen.
Amorim will be in charge of his last match as Sporting manager on Sunday when they play Braga away in the league after managing Tuesday’s Champions League match.
