Why Ruben is relaxed about our transfer plans
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim explored the subject of summer transfers, during the second part of his press conference to preview Sunday’s Manchester derby.
The boss was asked several questions about our plans for the upcoming window and, as you can read in the Q&A below, he is confident about his preparatory work with technical director Jason Wilcox to identify players for his philosophy. Delve into the details here…
Hi Ruben, at Sporting, you and Hugo Viana combined to win titles without always having the biggest budget compared to Benfica and Porto… how do you win a league without the biggest budget? And does it show that Hugo was exceptional at his job at Sporting? Do you need Jason [Wilcox] to be exceptional at his job here if this club is to win the league, when it can’t spend the money that Manchester City can?
“It’s a different context, a different league. Of course, we were in a similar position, maybe lower. But this is different. Here the competition is completely different. Of course, we need to have a great connection. I was so lucky to work with Hugo, but I find it is more or less the same relation with Jason, so in that department I’m completely relaxed. We need to be really good in recruitment, we need to know our system and the way we play. The players have to be perfect for that position, so we know what to do, that is clear, we will see next season.”
Hi Ruben, at Sporting, you and Hugo Viana combined to win titles without always having the biggest budget compared to Benfica and Porto… how do you win a league without the biggest budget? And does it show that Hugo was exceptional at his job at Sporting? Do you need Jason [Wilcox] to be exceptional at his job here if this club is to win the league, when it can’t spend the money that Manchester City can?
“It’s a different context, a different league. Of course, we were in a similar position, maybe lower. But this is different. Here the competition is completely different. Of course, we need to have a great connection. I was so lucky to work with Hugo, but I find it is more or less the same relation with Jason, so in that department I’m completely relaxed. We need to be really good in recruitment, we need to know our system and the way we play. The players have to be perfect for that position, so we know what to do, that is clear, we will see next season.”
Part two: Press conference v Man City Video
Part two: Press conference v Man City
Press conference part two | Amorim is asked for his 'secret' to beating Guardiola and about us signing 'big players'...
Ruben, you’ve come up against Guardiola twice this season and beat him both times. What has been the secret to those wins?
“Lucky. First game was so lucky, the first half could be 0-4 and we won 4-1. The second game, I prefer the second game, we won in the last second. I think they controlled more of the possession, but we were there fighting with Manchester City. So, if I have to tell you one thing, maybe luck.”
Do you need more than luck to beat them a third time?
“Of course, because the odds drop. But we are prepared for the game. We are improving in some aspects of our game, sometimes the results are not there but we are improving and I can see that. So, let’s continue with that idea. We know it’s going to be a different game from Nottingham, so we have to adapt the way we play, and we are working on that to be prepared for Sunday.”
“Lucky. First game was so lucky, the first half could be 0-4 and we won 4-1. The second game, I prefer the second game, we won in the last second. I think they controlled more of the possession, but we were there fighting with Manchester City. So, if I have to tell you one thing, maybe luck.”
Do you need more than luck to beat them a third time?
“Of course, because the odds drop. But we are prepared for the game. We are improving in some aspects of our game, sometimes the results are not there but we are improving and I can see that. So, let’s continue with that idea. We know it’s going to be a different game from Nottingham, so we have to adapt the way we play, and we are working on that to be prepared for Sunday.”
It's funny you talk about good luck there because when I think of Amad scoring against City, he’s been injured, I’m thinking you’ve had a lot of bad luck this season with injuries and managers don’t like to say that because it looks like an excuse. Are you quite excited that it looks like, next season, if you don’t have all these injuries, the progress could be quite quick because you’ve been without a lot of players this season?
“I’m really excited for next season and I’m already really stressed for next season because I put a lot of pressure on us. We’ve had a lot of bad luck with injuries but you can look at the Premier League, everybody had some injuries, so I don’t like to focus on that. Then, sometimes when you have an injury, you find something that is going to be important in the future. I found out Garna [Alejandro Garnacho] can play on the right, Ayden [Heaven] is ready to stay in our squad and maybe we can change the way we go into the market. So, there are good things in the bad things, let’s focus on that.”
When do you think Amad will be able to play for you?
“I think he will be ready in the final games, I don’t know for sure [which game], but he will be ready. We will see.”
“I’m really excited for next season and I’m already really stressed for next season because I put a lot of pressure on us. We’ve had a lot of bad luck with injuries but you can look at the Premier League, everybody had some injuries, so I don’t like to focus on that. Then, sometimes when you have an injury, you find something that is going to be important in the future. I found out Garna [Alejandro Garnacho] can play on the right, Ayden [Heaven] is ready to stay in our squad and maybe we can change the way we go into the market. So, there are good things in the bad things, let’s focus on that.”
When do you think Amad will be able to play for you?
“I think he will be ready in the final games, I don’t know for sure [which game], but he will be ready. We will see.”
Part one: Press conference v Man City Video
Part one: Press conference v Man City
Press conference part one | Ruben provides the latest news on injuries and our squad, before Sunday’s Manchester derby…
You said [in the first part of the press conference] that you wanted one or two big players and big players for you are different to maybe what other people…
“I shouldn’t say that but big players is like different things…”
But you also said about the system, is it just the perfect players for you, your system, and that’s very different to what everyone else wants?
“It’s characteristics that we don’t have in our squad. Trying to see the gaps we have in our squad and when I say big players, it’s not players from Real Madrid and etcetera. It’s big players in the way I see the game.”
And not big money?
“That helps a lot.”
“I shouldn’t say that but big players is like different things…”
But you also said about the system, is it just the perfect players for you, your system, and that’s very different to what everyone else wants?
“It’s characteristics that we don’t have in our squad. Trying to see the gaps we have in our squad and when I say big players, it’s not players from Real Madrid and etcetera. It’s big players in the way I see the game.”
And not big money?
“That helps a lot.”
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