An inside look at Ruben Amorim's first week as manager of Manchester United

The Manchester United employees were aware of the irony.

The man who had been instructive in hiring Carrington as the club's head coach had to fly in the opposite direction, to Lisbon, as the globe saw Carrington and Ruben Amorim experience his new surroundings for the first time.

Omar Berrada must have felt at home in Portugal's capital.

The day he relieved Erik ten Hag of his responsibilities, United's CEO began negotiating with Sporting for the release of their "transformer," a procedure that proceeded quickly and successfully.

In his formal introduction remarks as manager, Amorim would disclose that Berrada's pitch—the Portuguese being the focal point of a potent new period that would contain the greatest sports stadium—was what compelled him to sign the deal right away.

Berrada was the first to greet Amorim warmly as he got out of the black Mercedes that drove him to United's training complex last Monday just after 2:00 pm. Berrada then led the tour before having to rush to the airport to participate in a WebSummit panel.

The contrary was true if he had hoped to find some relief from everything Amorim.

Despite the fact that the conference drew over 70,000 people to Lisbon, the main topic of conversation throughout the week was United's new head coach. Taxi drivers, hotel employees, and senior executives from some of the biggest corporations in the world were all talking about Amorim, so there was no way out.

His departure from Portugal was welcomed by Benfica supporters, who anticipated a decline for Sporting. These views were co-signed by Porto supporters. They felt a sense of relief.

Hugo Viana, the new director of football for Manchester City from Sporting, was also present at WebSummit and was aware that the way rivals responded to Amorim's exit would be similar to the day Pep Guardiola, who was about to sign a contract extension, left the Premier League winners.

Internally, the 39-year-old was being evaluated as a possible replacement in the future as part of standard contingency planning.

One of his close confidants described it as "a giant club with giant history saying you can write their future." Amorim understood he couldn't wait for something that might happen when he got it.

Even though Sporting employees, players, and supporters were still in grief, their joy in their guy being United's pick overshadowed their sadness.

There was a common belief among those discussing Amorim and their personal opinions of the move: he will succeed where many others, including some of higher prominence, had failed.

As the spokesperson for United, a coaching colleague made a joke with Amorim that he was now "the most famous manager in the world."

They laughed it off. People who know him well think he will exploit the intense and immersive worldwide glare to create whatever emotion he needs to propel United forward, but he will soon discover exactly how intense it is.

The club's sponsors checking to see what Amorim will be wearing in the dugout for his debut game as manager at Ipswich on Sunday provide a small glimpse into the atmosphere that is changing around him away from the field.

Sales of that item increased as a result of his first interview, in which he wore a stylish green Adidas track jacket.

According to a source close to Paul Smith's affiliation with the team, they are urging him to wear their uniform this weekend because "he is marketing gold: he doesn't try, he is just authentic, and people respond to that."

During the international break, United has already benefited from Amorim in terms of both content and commerce. The website and app have exploded with features, videos, and spin-offs centred around him.

Many of them have been labelled "viral," and Amorim is a commodity in a manner that Ten Hag was never.

Even during the most trying times, the Dutchman loved, cared for, and stood up for the team, but he lacked the skills necessary to express that in a kind, interesting, and approachable manner.

He was excellent when he was not in front of the camera or during interviews where he connected with the reporter or presenter, but he was unable to "take people on a journey and get them emotionally invested."

The opposite is true for Amorim. A "poet," as Cristiano Ronaldo once referred to him, he exploits his personal connection to football as a superpower. Some of his predecessors were unable to see the importance of communicating with emotion and striking at the heart of what makes a football fan become engrossed in the game.

"The thing with Ruben," his confidant explains, "is that he understands every emotion—that of a coach, a supporter, or a player." Of winning and losing. of committing errors, then growing from them and leveraging them to achieve success. Because he speaks to us like us, he is able to express all of these emotions in a straightforward and understandable manner. And he truly conveys to you his passion for football, his desire to win, and his willingness to battle."

Employees and athletes at Carrington have already shown support for that relationship. It has been described as "demanding but jovial."

Getting settled, meeting with all departments and those not on international duty, touring Carrington and Old Trafford, and identifying areas for immediate improvements and wins were the main goals of Amorim's first week in command.

His amazement at the scope of United's history on the stadium visit has influenced many aspects of this week, including reminding players of the team's greatness and instilling in them the basics of what is required to do the shirt right.

The fascination with his formation has baffled Amorim, who feels that there are a lot more important aspects than his use of three at the back. More importance is placed on a player's skills and limitations, their work ethic, their ability to adapt to his demands, and their ability to effectively communicate his ideas, particularly when it comes to in-game decision-making, than on the setup they use to begin the game.

Above all, they must be combative, aggressive, have the proper character, and maintain their identity regardless of the circumstances on the pitch.

Amorim's first main message was to give the team confidence; everyone is at United for a reason, and he asked them to demonstrate why they are a part of "the best club in the world"—six phrases he has used frequently.

Amorim's training sessions have been more intense, fast, and 'dynamic thinking'. In order to eliminate the capitulations the team has grown accustomed to, he hopes to reduce recovery periods when the ball is lost and strengthen the connection between mental acuity and physical conditioning.

His expectation is that United will eventually "live and breathe his idea like second nature." He feels that he must convey his style to the team effectively enough for us to notice it on our own, thus he is less concerned with externally describing it.

Despite all of the viral content, sponsors stumbling over themselves, and supporters believing United is back, Amorim knows that the real work starts on Sunday and that his success will only be determined by what happens next.

According to Sky Sports News, Amorim wants to restore Manchester United to its former glory by concentrating on improving the training fields rather than making a huge transfer expenditure.

Rather than pressing for new hires during the January transfer window, he has spent this week putting his principles of play into practice and dissecting the concept of the team he envisions United being in terms of identity and character.

Ten Hag was replaced by the 39-year-old by United's leadership structure because they believed the team was not performing up to par. The Portuguese has a talent for getting the most out of both individuals and the team as a whole.

Amorim takes great satisfaction in helping people grow and incorporating their talents into his strategy, something he plans to keep doing. In addition to evaluating players who were not playing for their national teams at Carrington during the international break, he also examined this season's video to address any shortcomings.

The majority of the team is thought to be able to adjust to Amorim's plan, with the left wingback position being the one that may require a transfer from the market because of Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw's injury problems.

Reports that have connected them to anything from goalkeepers to strikers have baffled the coaching staff, who have only recently joined. Rasmus Hojlund has been noted as an example of the group's unrealised potential, and they are thrilled about the chance to let players who have been written off the platform prove others wrong.

It is anticipated that even those who have impressed, such as Kobbie Mainoo and Amad, will achieve greater heights. During training, the two have enjoyed one-on-one conversations with Amorim, who has stepped in to help them with timing of their movements and passes as well as better body positioning to create angles.

There has been a buzz around the facility regarding Leny Yoro finally making his competitive debut for United.

Overall, the message from the coaching set-up and the club's administration is confidence that the current crop are capable of delivering well more than they've shown.

One of CEO Omar Berrada's primary goals is to operate in a sustainable manner, and this goal is firmly in place. It has been claimed that the transfer waste that marred United's post-Sir Alex Ferguson era will no longer exist, and a more streamlined approach is anticipated now that sporting director Dan Ashworth has had more time to scrutinise recruitment procedures.

They had never sold well in the summer before, but now they want to make it a tradition. There will be plenty time and space to assess how players handle Amorim's expectations and identify areas for improvement, so there won't be any hurried judgements made regarding off-season squad preparation.

This includes decisions regarding contract extensions and options.

United's management is aware that it will take time for Amorim's methods to fully take shape, especially given the limited training time with the entire squad before the big kickoff. Amorim's first game in charge is against Ipswich on Sunday, live on Sky Sports. He has stated that his ideals will be evident from the beginning.