With coaches who have just been at Old Trafford since the summer expected to be let go, INEOS is prepared to let Ruben Amorim bring his own backroom staff to Manchester United. Erik ten Hag was fired on Monday due to United’s terrible start to the season, and 39-year-old Amorim is about to take over as manager. Amorim, a former midfielder for Benfica, wants to bring three coaches from Sporting Lisbon with him. Amorim has won the league twice in four complete seasons there.
Mais Futebol reports that Daniel Fernandes, Adelio Candido, and goalie coach Jorge Vital will join the Portuguese manager at Old Trafford. Before accompanying Amorim to Sporting in early 2020, the three collaborated with him at Braga, his second management position.
For United’s current backroom personnel, especially custodian coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar, who joined the team in July, it is not encouraging. As part-owners INEOS let Ten Hag to reorganise his coaching staff, two further Dutchmen, Rene Hake and former Red Devils striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, also joined during the summer.
Van Nistelrooy will be United’s interim manager for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup fourth-round match against Leicester City, but he may resign if Amorim is prepared to take over as manager for Sunday’s Premier League match against Chelsea. Sporting defeated Nacional 3-1 on Tuesday to go to the Portuguese League Cup semi-finals, and the 39-year-old may have managed the team for the last time. “Manchester United is interested, but it’s my choice,” Amorim said after the game. We won’t be making any noise until everything has been decided. I have nothing to contribute. I will continue to accept responsibility for my choices, but it will be simpler if I am certain of them.”
Sporting confirmed that United had notified them of their plan to pay Amorim’s €10 million (£8.3 million) release clause five hours before to kickoff. Regarding the premature announcement, he acknowledged: “It’s challenging. It’s nearly impossible because it’s football, an announcement was made, and it took place on game day. You have no control over that.
“Just before the set pieces to remove the elephant from the room, there was no discussion of anything. I told the players everything that was going on before the statement was made public. Nothing else can be said.
“The supporters are obviously upset. They really care about me and what I do. I recognise that, and it’s quite normal. I’ll give a thorough explanation of my decision-making process if I have the chance, which I most definitely will.” According to Portuguese reports, Amorim will sign a lucrative two-and-a-half-year contract worth £6.65 million annually with the Red Devils, tripling his pay.