Reuben Amorim admits he was filled with dreads before last season’s game because he knew that Manchester United’s team could not compete at the required level.
The Portuguese boss replaced Eric 10 Hug last November, but United came in 15th when the campaign ended, as they managed only seven wins from their 27 Premier League encounters.
The disastrous consequences led Amorim to doubt his own abilities as a United manager. The 40-year-old offered to leave without financial compensation if the club believed it was the right decision.
However, United favored the head coach. The head coach continues to fallen into glory after bringing the fallen Premier League giant back to glory and confessing, then approaching equipment in hopes of disappointment.
“To tell the truth, that wasn’t a way to go back to my house after the game,” Amorim said during a break from United’s US tour. “That was the way I left to go to the game because I felt we would struggle at times.
“All the struggles we had in the game were able to feel it before, so it was the hardest part – going to the game and knowing that we’re not competitive and knowing how we should be. That was the hardest part.
“When I returned, I tried to look at my family and think about different things, but if you wanted to know the most difficult moments, it was in front of the game.
“I felt very annoyed throughout the season. I couldn’t do anything and had to admit it, so I had to wait. Being a manager at Manchester United was like going to a fight with my hands (on his side). It was frustrating.
“There were some really difficult moments for me because I felt that I was disappointing all these people. When you lose so many games, it’s hard for everyone to believe in one idea and all the changes.
“I don’t want to go back to the feeling that I don’t think it’s a 50-50 game. I think we’ll be a better team, not because we really believe we can do better, but we believe there are a lot of players who can do better.
Coaching United could be ranked among the toughest positions in global football, but Amorim maintains a grounded outlook on his responsibility.
“This is not the most pressured moment of my life,” Amorim said. “I’ve had a career as a player and it really ended quickly because of an injury.
“My wife and I wanted to help our family, so we had an Excel sheet containing all the money we had and everything we needed. All of that responsibility made me feel pressured at the time.
“Today, I don’t feel any pressure about it. It’s like ego’s. I want to be United’s manager for a while. It took me five years to choose this club, so I don’t want to fail. That’s the only pressure.
“The other pressures, the pressure to end my career as a footballer were different. It was even more difficult to deal with.”
