Reuben Amorim Exclusive: Manchester United boss target returns to Europe – but the team says it lacks “crazy guy” ahead of the Premier League clash at Brentford

“It was really tough,” Amorim admitted in an exclusive interview with TNT Sports Pundit Owen Hargreaves ahead of his trip to GTECH Community Stadium.

“It’s a completely different reality. I learned a lot last year.”

That integrity sets the standard for men that they have never been avoided from adversity.

Highly praised for his tactical insights in the sport, Amorim arrived at Old Trafford with high expectations and even greater problems. United’s transitional season of 2024/25 exposed vulnerabilities throughout the pitch, but there is a flash of evolution.

Although staff changes tend to have that effect, it is Amorim’s system that has attracted both his supporters and his biggest critics, perhaps the most interest among both his supporters and his biggest critics.

His much-discussed three backs were compared to the setup deployed by European elites. Hargreaves, who won the UEFA Champions League in 2001 and played in a similar formation by Bayern Munich, was interested in where Amorim elicited inspiration.

“I started with 4-4-2,” the Portuguese explained, reflecting on the early days of his management team. “I have changed because usually every team is built in three and pushed the fullback up, but we had a lot of struggle with the back four to cover all the space.

“I started thinking about what I could do – that’s the fun part for me and I’m starting this system. The fun part is trying to adapt the way football is seen in every system of my opponent.”

But soccer isn’t just about numbers — it’s about personality. Asked if United needed more leadership in tough moments, Amorim offered a candid and slightly unexpected take.

“We need a leader,” he said. “But sometimes we miss some crazy guys. (Matheus) I think Cunya is a bit similar. Sometimes I think you need that crazy guy.

“It doesn’t matter if the world is on fire, but ‘I don’t care.'”

With European qualifications firmly in his vision, Amorim knows there is little room for error.

“We need to go back to Europe,” he said explicitly.

“We’re going to play better – that’s what I feel. When you look at the game, you feel like you can win the game.”

He states:

“Amado is not here, someone from his family has passed away, so we are giving Amado all the support, so we knew it was important for him to have his time and get home (in Manchester).

The Portuguese also said that Noussair Mazraoui will not return for choice until after the upcoming international break.

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Brentford v Manchester United will be performing live at TNT Sports 1 ahead of the kickoff at 12:30 UK time on Saturday, September 27th.