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Rob Dawson, CorrespondentNov 22, 2024, 11:35 AM ET
Rúben Amorim has said he expects to have the final say on Manchester United transfers despite being handed the title of head coach at Old Trafford rather than manager.
Amorim arrived from Sporting CP as part of a revamped structure at the club, which includes sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.
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A source has told ESPN that while Amorim will have a voice in recruitment decisions, he will have less influence that predecessor Erik ten Hag and the process will be led by Ashworth and Wilcox.
Speaking at his first United news conference on Friday, Amorim insisted it is vital that he signs off any additions and departures.
“Everybody has to work together and for that we have to improve the process of recruitment, the data, the profile of players we want,” Amorim said.
“But I have to have a strong position on that because I am the coach. I know how to play, so I think it’s all together but the final word should be the manager.
Rúben Amorim took over from Erik ten Hag as head coach of Manchester United. Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
“Not just because it’s your right but your responsibility. Because, in the end, the result is to me, so I think it’s all together to improve the process of recruitment.
“I have a great responsibility when we choose players because this is something that should be done this way. I’m the manager, the head coach, so I have to choose the players.”
Amorim smiled throughout his first meeting with the media since accepting United’s offer and looked relaxed ahead of his first game against Ipswich Town on Sunday.
He said that he has “belief” in the players he’s inherited despite the team sitting 13th in the Premier League table.
However, he accepted that maybe the players have lost belief in themselves after a difficult start to the season under Ten Hag.
“That’s for sure but this is normal in every team,” he said. “When you don’t win games, you start to be suspicious of the way of playing. You can understand when they walk to the game or the warm up, you can feel if they are confident or not, so that is a normal thing.
“I think I have to help them to feel that. It will take time but they are ready to cope with the demands of the Premier League because they have proved that.
“You can see even this year and last year sometimes they have a bad first half and then in the second half without any tactical change, they will turn up and change things. They have to find the mindset to play this way through all the game.”
