I watched Ruben Amorim's first interview as Man United boss - Erik ten Hag was destined to fail

Ruben Amorim hasn't fallen into the 'club culture' trap during his first week as Manchester United head coach - unlike Erik ten Hag - who resigned from the idea of imposing his philosophy to appease impatient outsiders.

Eager to get his feet under the table at Carrington, the former Sporting CP manager touched down in Manchester earlier this week. Amorim, who has penned a two-and-a-half-year contract, won't conduct a full first-team training session until his new players begin to return from international duty.

While the Portuguese tactician will initially be without the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez, some big names will be available upon his arrival. Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, Mason Mount, Amad, Antony and Casemiro could be the first players to get a glimpse of their new boss in action.

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In the meantime, Amorim has held his first interview as United boss. Speaking to the official club website, the 39-year-old wasn't afraid to rock the boat, insisting he plans to turn over a new leaf and implement his own ideas.

When asked about building a strong link between its famed academy and his first-team, Amorim said: "I think it's important because a lot of people now talk about the 3-4-3 and the 4-3-3 and all that stuff. But when I think, as a player or as a teammate of Manchester United, it's not a system of formation, it's like the character of the players, the way they see the club.

"So we have to focus on that before the everything of how we play, how we press. The most important thing for me, at this moment, is to create the principles, the identity and the character that we had in the past."

Then, when quizzed on his brand of football, Amorim replied: "For me, it's a team. Like if I have to say in one word team, the team is the most important thing for me. And if you work as a team, then the talent individually is going to shine.

"But if I have to explain the importance of everything, it's the character, in the way we fight, the way we play and we must have an identity. If our players take the shirt, they will know that it is the Manchester United team.

"Everybody thinks the same, running back, playing, enjoying and this is what drives me. I can say the popular thing, which is to win. Everybody wants to win and I want to win with my players, with the fans, but with an identity and one idea, that is the thing that I am focused on all the time."

When asked what style of team he wants to build, Amorim 'guaranteed' to give United fresh identity. He said: "It's hard to say. It's hard to say. I want to say beautiful things to you, but I'm really honest. What I can say is that I think you will see an idea.

"You could like it or not, I don't know, but you will see an idea. You will see a positioning. You will see something, something that we want to reach that kind of level. You will feel that.

"But we have to know that it's like two trainings before the first match. This is the best league in the world. But if I have to say something to you, you will see an idea. This I can guarantee."

Amorim has refused to fall into the 'club culture' trap that swallowed Ten Hag. The former Sporting manager has been defiant. He's set in his ways, determined to lead United into a new era, defined by their performances in the pitch rather than those who have preceded them.

While Ten Hag also wanted to impose his model, he appeared under pressure to appease impatient and frustrated outsiders who wanted to see the club return to the 'glory days' and to the play the 'Sir Alex Ferguson way'.

Speaking to the official club website in his first interview, Ten Hag was asked how he plans to translate the success he enjoyed at Ajax to United. He said: "There are similarities, but also contradictions.

"I have to learn and I have to adjust but I also have to stay myself. I'm convinced we can bring in the structures and the way of play that we want. If we get that done, we get that communicated to the players, then we will get that success."

Then, later on in that same interview, Ten Hag contradicted himself, claiming that he also wants to play 'the Man United way' - which is an entirely different brand of football to his own. He said: "Useful, yes, definitely because we have to get a way of playing.

"We have to present our way of playing. With our way I mean the Man United way. We will give them rules and principles, so we're bringing in structures and we use that opposition to bring in the structure we want together. That will be useful to get a good start in the season."

Ironically, it didn't take long for Ten Hag to move away from the idea of building a project. Speaking to reporters in 2023, the Dutchman snapped when he was asked why United aren't suddenly playing like his Ajax side from around 2019 - which took years to build - in just a few months.

Spoiler alert... Rome wasn't built in a day. He said: "I can't play like Ajax because I have different players. I came here with my philosophy - based on possession - but wanted to combine that with the DNA here at Manchester United, the players and their characters. I want to emphasise more on going direct."

It was at this moment that Ten Hag realised that he was no longer being judged on building a new and exciting identity at United - that, with time, would later reap rewards. Instead, impatient outsiders demanded silverware and instant success - ignoring the progress he made during his debut campaign.

At last, United have a manager who will look to offer the club a new identity. A fresh start. The day that Amorim strays from his philosophy - that made him so successful at Sporting - to appease any impatient fans and pundits alike, who are perhaps stuck in the past, is probably the day that he heads down the same path as Ten Hag.

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