Ruben Amorim exclusive: Manchester United boss on tenure so far - ‘I was expecting hard days but not like this’

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Ruben Amorim has been in charge of Manchester United since November last year, but his tenure has been anything but easy. Appointed to turn around the team’s fortunes, instead, he has presided over just four wins from their last 14 Premier League matches. His side sit 15th in the table as they prepare to take on Everton, a match which is live on TNT Sports.

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Ruben Amorim has admitted that his time in charge of Manchester United has been even tougher than he originally expected, as his side gets ready to take on Everton away from home, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Languishing in 15th in the table, Man Utd are by no means safe - although it would realistically take a series of unlikely events for them to wind up in a relegation scrap.

It is a far cry from the heady days of fighting for the top-flight title and trophies on multiple fronts, but Amorim knew he had a tough challenge on his hands when he accepted the job.

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But the former Sporting boss has now come clean to TNT Sports' Rio Ferdinand just how worried he is about his team’s form - which has not been helped by a series of injuries to key players, although at least Christian Eriksen, Manuel Ugarte and Leny Yoro all look fit to return to the fold.

"If you said to me in the beginning that you are going to win four matches in 14, I don’t believe you. I would say you are crazy you know. And that for me is the hardest part," Amorim said.

When pushed on whether that was because he was more used to winning, having led Sporting to two league titles - including in his first full season with the Portuguese side - Amorim was clear that there was more to his sentiment than just a lack of results.

"It’s your pride as a coach - it doesn’t matter the context," he explained. "You are [at] Manchester United and you lose nine games in the Premier League.

"As a player… you know that when you get in this moment sometimes it is really hard to turn things around. And we are in this moment. So, I was expecting hard days, but not like this."

Man Utd head to Goodison Park to take on a buoyant Everton side who gained confidence by holding leaders Liverpool to a draw in the last Merseyside derby.

And with two league defeats on the bounce to Tottenham and Crystal Palace, Amorim knows his side cannot afford to keep this losing habit.

But unlike his predecessor Erik ten Hag, Amorim has not lost the faith of the fans, who are firmly behind the Portuguese manager.

"I never saw anything like [them], the way they behave with us, not just me, the players, the way they behave with us, away games, home games, they are unbelievable.

"I am doing everything I know and we are still losing, and that is really hard to say.

"So I just want to say that I am giving everything… I took a lot of time to choose a club to leave Sporting and I chose this club and for me…"

"It is the right club," stated Ferdinand.

"I know," responded Amorim. "But after all that work, to fail and fail and fail is really hard. So I am giving everything, I want to change things, but sometimes your best is not enough.

"Let’s hope that we can change this in this game."

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