Video: Amorim shares insight on relationship with Mourinho – ‘We are exchanging messages’
Video credit: TNT Sports
Amorim spent time with Mourinho at the club’s Carrington training ground in 2017 while he was studying for his coaching badge. Eight years later, the 40-year-old is now in his manager’s office in Manchester’s south-west suburbs.
Portugal’s ability to produce elite coaches has been notable in recent years, with the likes of Amorim, Marco Silva and Nuno Espirito Santo playing key roles in the Premier League.
Going back even further, Andre Villas-Boas and Mourinho managed Chelsea and Spurs, but there are other successful managers outside of England’s top team as well, such as Jorge Jesus and Sergio Conceição.
“First of all, we love football,” Amorim told TNT Sports in Carrington. “There are many countries that love soccer.
“Then one guy, Jose Mourinho, opened the door for us and helped us a lot.
“Especially the moment he broke out, he was really ahead of his time in the way he trained, all the drills, the microcycles, all of this, and he helped us with our formations, so we had that information.
“And in Portugal, you have to be really creative. You have to use young kids, then market them and then in two years or one year you have to build another team.
“It gives you a lot of tools to deal with a lot of problems. It gives you experience of how to deal with things, how to think about football in different ways, because you don’t have one player with those characteristics. Sometimes the next year you don’t have those kinds of players, so you have to play in a different way.”
“And when I say it differently, it’s not a different system, it’s a different way of playing.
“So I think it’s all about the environment, the conditions we grew up with as coaches in Portugal, and also the talent we have to work with in Portugal.”
Amorim says he still keeps in touch with Mourinho, now the Benfica manager, many years after their first meeting.
“I learned from many coaches, but Mourinho was helpful,” he said.
“Not just for the Portuguese, but all over the world. Especially in the early years and during his career, he was always winning.
“His way of communicating was always different and I remember you really liked that here[in England].
“I’m always in touch with him and he was at Benfica, but it’s funny. It’s like we’re changing countries and clubs.
“But he is a reference for me and we exchange messages from time to time, but nothing more.”
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Watch: Amorim reacts to winning first Coach of the Month award
Video credit: TNT Sports
“I live a simple life”
Amorim’s tenure at Manchester United has been an exercise in resilience.
Amid the ups and downs, the Portuguese player says he strives to maintain his “balance” even away from the game.
“First of all, I knew[what to expect as a Premier League manager],” he said.
“Since I started my coaching career, since I started coaching in Portugal, I have read a lot and tried to watch a lot to understand a lot of things in the Premier League.
“So, I know what happens with the coaches, so I understand that I have to keep a balance and I try to do that.
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“I live a simple life, and that helps you maintain stability and family life, too, and that helps you.
“And most importantly, I feel that people want me here. Especially in my down moments, I feel everyone’s support.”
“That’s the key to keeping yourself balanced and understanding that this takes time and that there are people around you who can help.
“And it’s not just the staff, the players, but the fans as well. The support they’ve given me this season and last season, during the really low moments, has been key to my emotional balance at these stages.”
