Ruben Amorim reveals what he ‘needs’ from new Man United technical director Jason Wilcox to succeed at Old Trafford – as Red Devils boss makes Hugo Viana comparison

Seeing Hugo Viana representing Manchester City at Sunday’s derby at Old Trafford will sharpen Ruben Amorim’s focus about the importance of his relationship with Jason Wilcox being key to turning Manchester United fortunes around.

Amorim and sporting director Viana were the dream team at Sporting Lisbon, helping them win two league titles before they were each poached by different Manchester rivals.

Technical director Wilcox is also relatively new to United but taking more responsibility over recruitment following the surprise departure of Dan Ashworth.

With United hamstrung in the transfer market by PSR and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe raising the alarm over financial losses, they need to be cute with player purchases, and sales.

‘We need to have a great connection,’ acknowledged Amorim. ‘I was so lucky to work with Hugo. It’s not exactly the same but is more or less the same relationship with Jason, so in that department I’m completely relaxed.

‘At Sporting, it was a different context, here the competition is completely different. But we need to be really good in recruitment.

Amorim revealed he has ‘more or less’ as good of a relationship with United’s technical director

Amorim and Viana won two league titles together at Sporting before leaving to work on opposite sides of Manchester

‘We need to know our system, the way we play, and the players have to be perfect for that position. We know what to do, we will see next season.’

United have been heavily linked with a number of players including Sporting striker Victor Gyokeres and Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha but will also have to offload players. Though the club are hoping Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho – all currently out on loan – may bring in transfer fees, the nuclear option is having to sell one of their highly-prized homegrown youngsters, Kobbie Mainoo or Alejandro Garnacho.

The emergence of teenager Ayden Heaven at the back has reduced the urgency of adding another centre-back with Lisandro Martinez also due to return.

‘I am really excited for next season and already really stressed because I put a lot of pressure on us,’ said Amorim.

‘We have bad luck with injuries but everybody has had some of those in the Premier League so I don’t like to focus on that.

‘Sometimes because of injuries, you find out something else that will be important in the future. I have found that Garna (Garnacho) can play on the right. I found out Ayden is ready to stay in our squad and maybe we can change the way we are going to go to the market. There are always the good and bad things.’

Amorim is looking to complete a personal hat-trick of wins against City this season having thumped them in the Champions League with Sporting and then benefitting from a late Amad Diallo-inspired comeback for United at The Etihad.

‘I have to tell you, they were maybe luck,’ smiled the United boss. ‘The first game was lucky. In the first half it could have been 4-0 to them and we won 4-1.

Amid United’s deep injury crisis this season, Amorim revealed that some silver linings have appeared, such as teenage star Ayden Heaven at centre back

Amorim is seeking a personal hat-trick of wins against Man City on Sunday afternoon

‘The second game when we won in the last seconds, I think I preferred that one. I think they controlled the possession a little more, but we were there fighting with Manchester City.

‘Of course we need more than luck this time because he odds drop! We are prepared for the game and we are improving in some aspects of our game.

‘Sometimes the results are not there but we are improving – and I can see that. So let’s continue with that idea.

‘We know it’s going to be a different game from Nottingham Forest (which United lost 1-0 on Tuesday) so we have to adapt the way we play and we are working on that.’