Ruben Amorim has had a whirlwind first few months at Manchester United that have kept surprising him but he was still caught off guard by one thing he saw during his first game at Old Trafford.
Ruben Amorim didn’t come to Man Utd in the most ideal circumstances, from Erik ten Hag leaving a mess behind, to the new manager bounce being taken by Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Then came the change in the system, player disciplinary actions, changes in the executive structure above him and matches every three days.
While the Man Utd manager has shown great resilience to keep fighting back, he recently revealed that he was caught off guard by what he saw at Old Trafford when he managed United at home for the first time.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Ruben Amorim’s Old Trafford surprise
Amorim became a fan favourite from the first moment he arrived, with his bags of charisma and public speaking skills a departure from Ten Hag.
His connection with the fans has allowed him to outlast the negative results, which might have made the environment toxic under another manager.
The glimpse of the same was seen by him in his very first game at Old Trafford, as he revealed in an interview with CBS Sports.
Speaking in the buildup to the Europa League final, Amorim said he was not expecting a full Old Trafford for his first home game at the club, rejecting the club’s suggestion to go out there alone.
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He said: “Everybody in the club was saying that I have to go alone to receive the warmth of the fans but I said no. I don’t like that. I prefer to go as natural, one more in the team.
“Was incredible, I was not expecting a full stadium, Europa League game against Bodo. Was a special moment. I was so focused on the game.”
Fan support will empower Man Utd and Ruben Amorim
It has become a running theme for the players and Amorim to thank the fans for their unconditional support this season.
It stands in stark contrast to the uneasy relationship Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou has had to endure with his club’s fanbase this season.
While that doesn’t seem like a big deal when spoken in isolation, that is something that could concentrate the players’ minds.
The Man Utd squad will be determined to give back something to the fans at the end of a torturous season, while Spurs are hoping to get the trophy monkey off their back.
They are different kinds of motivation but the former is a positive driver of confidence while the latter can serve as a burden of sorts.
Amorim will no longer be surprised to see a full Old Trafford in any game regardless of its perceived importance or time.