- Ruben Amorim has detailed his feelings on leaving Sporting after four years
- The 39-year-old is set to take charge of Manchester United on November 11
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Ruben Amorim has opened up on his conflicting emotions surrounding leaving Sporting Lisbon after being named the new Manchester United manager.
The 39-year-old is set to take the reins at Old Trafford on November 11, with the club currently slumped in 13th in the league table following their worst-ever start to a Premier League season.
Amorim had been hopeful of remaining at Sporting until the end of the season but United were determined that he would take over as soon as possible.
As such, the Portuguese coach will lead Sporting out for the final time at the Jose Alvalade Stadium on Tuesday night, when they play host to United’s bitter rivals Man City in the Champions League.
Speaking ahead of the clash Amorim detailed the whirlwind of the last seven days.
Ruben Amorim has detailed the difficulty of leaving Sporting Lisbon after four years
The 39-year-old is set to take over at Man United with the club languishing following their worst-ever Premier League start
‘[It’s been] very tough,’ he told TNT Sports. ‘The worst and best week of my life. I don’t have another way to explain.
‘Very tough because I’m leaving because I’m leaving a very good place but I’m going to one of the best clubs in the world so it has been very tough but it is what it is.’
Asked how the managing in the Premier League will will differ from his experiences coaching in his native Portugal, the former Benfica midfielder insisted he feels ready to take on ‘the best coaches in the world’.
He continued: ‘I think it’s very challenging but not just Pep [Guardiola].
‘In England, all the best coaches are there, all the best teams it is going to be a different world because in Portugal you have the big three teams and you have a lot of weeks, tough games but you control the games.
‘[England] is a different world. I need that as a coach now but to say I’m looking forward to challenge like that every week, maybe not.’
Amorim has led Sporting two league titles and two league cups during his time at the club
After taking charge of Sporting in March 2020, Amorim led the club to their first league title in nearly two decades whilst also lifting the Portuguese league cup.
Despite being linked with both Liverpool and West Ham last season, Amorim again led his side to glory in the Primera Liga with a record-setting 90 points.
