Bruno Fernandes says Manchester United’s players must take a step back and focus on implementing Ruben Amorim’s proposed changes.
The Red Devils take on Ipswich Town in Amorim’s first game in charge on Sunday afternoon, knowing a win will take them into the top half of the Premier League table.
United have already risen to 12th, courtesy of Bournemouth’s home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, but have plenty of work to do if they are to reach the standards and expectations set by the club’s supporters, the board and the new coaching staff.
Amorim has outlined that he needs time to implement his ideas but ultimately his long-term ambition is for United to become Premier League champions for the 14th time – all 13 of their previous successses came under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Amorim’s Premier League bow, Fernandes has revealed that the players are working on things that need to be changed following Erik ten Hag’s departure – with a key step in United’s evolution looking at the here and now rather than looking too far ahead.
“It’s still the beginning but obviously you can see already what he’s about, how much intensity he wants to put in every training session. But then him and his staff are really strict, but at the same time open,” Fernandes said.
“They came to one of the biggest clubs in the world, they know the expectation is going to be high, some people will doubt, others will think that he will do everything straight away and be brilliant, so he knows what people are expecting.”
Tune in to The Promised Land Podcast as Scott Saunders talks through Ruben Amorim’s first press conference as Manchester United head coach and the beginning of a new era.
“The manager pointed out some things he thinks need to be changed by us and we have to follow that. Obviously not everyone starts, not everyone plays, but everyone’s going to be involved, and he wants everyone to feel the same attention and the same desire to win.”
In terms of Amorim’s philosophy, Fernandes continued: “It’s really direct, what he wants, what he demands, and we just have to follow the rules. I think communication was part of his success and I think he’s really good at that.
“We can’t focus too far because I think that’s been our problem lately, working too much ahead of us.
“My role is to push everyone to get on board with the coaching staff, with new ideas, to make everyone understand that we’re going to go in a different way now and we have to be the ones most excited for that.”
Amorim’s appointment at Old Trafford came as a result of a superb four-and-a-half-year spell in charge of Sporting CP that saw him win two Primeira Liga titles and two Taca da Liga’s – the Portuguese equivalent of the FA Cup.
Sporting were also flying under Amorim’s guidance this season, winning all 11 of their league games by an aggregate score of 39-5, while they also annihilated Manchester City 4-1 in the Champions League – a result that has set in motion the worst run of results in Pep Guardiola’s managerial career.
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