MANCHESTER: Ruben Amorim admits he feels embarrassed by his poor start to life at Manchester United.
Amorim arrived from Sporting Lisbon in November as one of the highest potential young managers in European football, but won only five of his first 16 league games, losing eight times.
United will finish this season’s Premier League campaign with the worst record in the club’s history, currently 14th, but still have the support of the club’s supporters.
In an interview with United icon Rio Ferdinand, Amorim said: “I feel it (the fans’ confidence in him). At the same time, I feel embarrassed because if you look at the team’s performance on the pitch, it’s difficult for me as a coach to take positive aspects.”
Amorim emphasized that he saw positive signs during training sessions, but they were not able to translate on the pitch.
The Portuguese manager is aware of the issues his team face when playing at Old Trafford, but does not feel this is due to a lack of talent in his squad.
For him, United’s young players felt the roar on the pitch, and he could feel it before kick-off.
“I think we all feel the excitement in the game and it can be seen in the little things. The way we move, understanding the game, especially at Old Trafford.
“I can see it in the players when they are in the dressing room and when they go out on the pitch to warm up. Before the start of the game, the atmosphere is more tense. It will affect the game,” he said.
Amorim is determined to turn United’s fortunes around, but the players need to believe in the tactics he is trying to implement.
“The only way for me to help them is to provide solutions on the pitch, but they need to believe in it,” he added.