'Incredible drive to SUCCEED'

AMORIM BACKED TO REVIVE UNITED'S FORTUNES

- SAMUEL LUCKHURST

WHAT does someone who worked with Ruben Amorim at Sporting make of him? "His drive to succeed is incredible," they said. "He's ruthless. He doesn't give a s**t what people say or who players are." That will be music to Manchester United supporters' ears. The illuminating footage of Amorim in the thick of it during his first team training session at Carrington has further fuelled excitement.

Training sessions are sensitive and United highlighted that behind the erection of a wall earlier this season that shielded the first team's pitch. On Monday evening, more than seven minutes was aired of Amorim timing attacks from back to front.

It confirmed Amorim is indoctrinating the players in the ways of his much-hyped 3-4-3, with potential early indicators as to who will start at Ipswich Town on Sunday. There was also the rare sight of United players sprinting towards their own goal.

Leny Yoro was informed on Monday he was down to start for the Under 21s in the National League Cup at Altrincham on Tuesday evening. His absence was owed to Amorim. Yoro was in the United defensive triumvirate for Amorim's maiden session.

Of all the post-Ferguson managerial appointments, only Jose Mourinho's in 2016 rivals the buzz around his compatriot. At the time of Erik ten Hag's overdue dismissal, it seemed unlikely United would settle on a replacement to completely unify the fanbase yet they have achieved that with Amorim.

It helped that the 39-year-old was visible in the days before United confirmed his imminent arrival, articulately entertaining the handful of English media representatives at his press conferences in Lisbon.

He indulged them again the following week before and after Sporting gave Manchester City a shellacking in the Champions League. United's best result in Europe that week was not against PAOK.