Ex-Jurgen Klopp coach pulls no punches with Ruben Amorim prediction for Man United

Ex-Jurgen Klopp assistant Vitor Matos has hailed Ruben Amorim as the ideal match for Manchester United – predicting the ex-Sporting CP manager will replicate his success at Old Trafford.

In a discussion with O JOGO, the 36-year-old – who is now the assistant boss at Red Bull Salzburg under Pep Lijnders – heaped praise on Amorim's achievements in Portugal and signalled his anticipation for the coach's impact at Old Trafford.

"I think Ruben is perfect for the Premier League and for United," Matos declared. "I believe that, just as he did at Sporting, he'll create a strong game identity, he'll bring freshness to the Premier League and he'll make United thirsty for titles. He can create a long-term project that will bring the stability that the club and its fans are used to."

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Amorim, who is poised to manage his first Premier League game this Sunday (November 24) against Ipswich Town at Portman Road, faces the challenge of rejuvenating United. They're currently struggling in 13th spot, having secured a mere four victories from their initial 11 fixtures.

His tenure at Sporting has given United fans ample cause for excitement, though. During a stint of just over four years, he steered the club to two Primeira Liga titles as well as two Taca da Liga trophies – Portugal's League Cup equivalent.

Moreover, he shaped Sporting into a side that's both tactically nuanced and solid in defence, with a coherent strategy on the field an attribute sorely missed at United for a long stretch, reports the Mirror.

This season, Amorim didn't just orchestrate a splendid 4-1 triumph over Manchester City in the Champions League; he also managed to lead his team to 11 consecutive league victories at the opening of the 2024/25 season, maintaining a flawless record.

Meanwhile, in Austria, Matos and Lijnders have had a somewhat stumbling start. Although Salzburg came in second last term in the Austrian Bundesliga, they've clinched a mere five wins out of their first 11 games this season, ranking them fourth currently.

Yet, with two games still in hand against the competition, seizing victories in these could catapult them past Austria Wien into third place. This venture marks Lijnders' second managerial chapter following a brief, less fruitful period at the helm of Dutch outfit NEC back in 2018.

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Matos, on the other hand, has expressed aspirations to secure a leading managerial role eventually but emphasises his total commitment to Salzburg at present. "That [becoming a manager] is an ambition that I want to make a reality," he declared.

"I've never hidden the fact that I have this ambition, but I want the context and the moment to dictate this possibility. At the moment, I'm living this Salzburg project one hundred per cent and I'm very happy and grateful to be with Pep, who, apart from the great friendship I have with him, is a reference point for me in professional terms. I couldn't see myself living this adventure without him."