THE SPECIAL 2.0

Petit reckons Amorim can be as big a hit in Premier League as Jose and sweep United to glory

- DAVID MCDONNELL

RUBEN AMORIM has been backed to take fallen giants Manchester United back to the top of English football and become their own ‘Special One’.

Amorim (above, with Luke Shaw) has started work as Erik ten Hag’s successor after leaving Sporting Lisbon to take on the challenge of reviving the struggling 20-time champions, 13th in the Premier League.

The 39-year-old faces a huge task, with United’s last title triumph coming back in 2013, when Sir Alex Ferguson brought down the curtain on his reign.

But former Arsenal, Chelsea and France midfielder Emmanuel Petit reckons Amorim is the man to turn United into a major force again after a succession of managers – including self-titled Special One Jose Mourinho – failed miserably.

Despite his belief in Amorim, Petit warned the new man in charge at Old Trafford that he is taking over a “monster” club that is bigger than anything he has encountered in his career.

“The new guy that’s going in there, Amorim, he’s been great in Portugal,” said Petit. “But this is a big, big job. It’s a big step up.