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cover of episode Inside Ruben Amorim's first press conference

Inside Ruben Amorim's first press conference

2024/11/22
logo of podcast Talk of the Devils - A show about Manchester United

Talk of the Devils - A show about Manchester United

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A
Andy Mitten
C
Carl Anka
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Ian Irving
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Karl Anka
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Laurie Whitwell
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Karl Anka:阿莫林是一位极具魅力的主教练,他的观点能够引起共鸣,并激励曼联球员。长期以来,曼联球员缺乏场上信念,而阿莫林能够为球队带来这种信念,让球员们更有动力为其效力。 Andy Mitten:阿莫林在新闻发布会上沟通良好,表现清晰、自信且放松。他强调球队需要提高身体素质,这引起了曼联球迷的共鸣,并对球队未来的发展充满期待。 Laurie Whitwell:阿莫林展现出谦逊、自信和坚毅,并对球员发出警告,暗示不遵守指令将面临后果。他强调球队需要更多回追,这与球队近期发布的训练视频内容相矛盾。他直接回应记者对球员的质疑,表达他对球员的信心,并坚持己见,表示即使赛季中期,也会坚持自己的执教方式,并对球员进行调整。他还提到穆里尼奥对葡萄牙教练的影响,并强调自己与穆里尼奥的不同之处。 Carl Anka:阿莫林在新闻发布会上表现自然、自信,这令人印象深刻。他认真倾听问题,并给出直接的回答,这与一些英超主教练的做法不同。他反复强调自己是曼联目前合适的教练,这体现了他的自信。他强调自己与穆里尼奥的不同,并利用年龄优势来与球员沟通。年轻教练与经验丰富的球员之间的沟通可能存在挑战,年轻教练需要了解球员的优势,并帮助他们改进不足之处。阿莫林能够激励球员,并让他们愿意为球队付出更多努力。但他的执教效果需要时间来检验。阿莫林对球员引进有最终决定权,但他强调这源于责任而非权利。 Nuno Lucho:阿莫林是一位诚实且直接的人,他将采取与在里斯本竞技队相同的策略,清理更衣室中那些不为集体利益着想的人,并提拔年轻球员。他相信阿莫林有潜力带领曼联在下赛季争夺英超冠军。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why did Ruben Amorim emphasize physicality in his first press conference?

Amorim highlighted physicality because he believes the team loses the ball too much and needs to track back more effectively. He sees this as a quick win to improve the team's performance.

What was the general sentiment among the journalists after Amorim's first press conference?

Journalists were impressed by Amorim's charisma, confidence, and clear communication. Many felt he connected well with the players and could inspire them to perform better.

How did Amorim address his age during the press conference?

Amorim mentioned his age as an advantage, believing it allows him to relate to the players better and communicate his ideas more effectively.

What was Amorim's stance on his coaching philosophy?

Amorim was resolute in his belief in his coaching methods, stating, 'It's my way or else. There's no second way.' He emphasized that he would adapt players but would implement his system 100%.

How did Amorim compare himself to Jose Mourinho?

Amorim acknowledged Mourinho as an inspiration for Portuguese coaches but emphasized his own differences, noting that he is not coming in as a European champion and has a different approach.

What did Amorim say about the current Manchester United squad?

Amorim expressed belief in the squad but warned that players who don't follow his instructions would face consequences. He said, 'I believe in you until you prove me wrong.'

What was the Portuguese media's reaction to Amorim's press conference?

Portuguese journalists were optimistic and proud of Amorim, believing he is the right person to lead Manchester United. They expect him to focus on winning matches and preparing for the next season.

What did Amorim hint at regarding his starting lineup for the first match?

Amorim suggested that while the names on the team sheet might not change, the positions of the players would be different to fit his system.

How did Amorim address the issue of player recruitment?

Amorim stated that while he doesn't have the final say, he has a great responsibility in choosing players. He emphasized the need to understand the league before making decisions.

What was the key takeaway about Amorim's coaching staff?

Amorim's coaching staff is young, with his assistant turning 30 and another coach being 28. This youth is seen as an advantage in communicating with the players.

Shownotes Transcript

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This is Talk The Devils, the athletics podcast dedicated to Manchester United. I'm cuddled up with Karl Anka in an interview room at the Manchester United training ground. We've just heard Ruben Amrim give his first press conference as the new manager of this club. We're going to be joined by Laurie Whitwell, who was also in the press conference in a moment. He's just finishing off his athletic article and Andy Mitten.

is with us as well. We're going to talk about the first press conference, the first impressions set by the new Manchester United manager and also look ahead to exactly what might happen on Sunday in his first match in charge against Ipswich Town. But first of all, Karl, you're in the room. What do you think? Oh, he's charismatic, isn't he? Very charismatic. More than you expected? Partway through where he gave an answer as to what sort of quick wins he could offer as a head coach.

He said physicality will be a thing. He said the team loses the ball a bit too much and also the team needs to track back a bit. And I felt myself nodding my head. Uh-oh, he's got me here. He's won me. Oh, he's got me. Like that. Yeah, he's a charismatic speaker. He talked a lot about his age and how he believed he was the right person at the right moment for this United team. And I came away from that conversation feeling as if the players at United would want to run for him.

I think for too long, the United squad has just lacked conviction in a lot of what they were doing on the field. Whereas I think under Amorim, there's going to be a lot of, I want to do this for him. So yeah, if you're a United fan right now, it's hard not to get galvanised.

Andy, we've heard Amarant talk as the sporting manager once he knew he was going to become the new Manchester United manager. We've heard him speak to the club's channels as well and give his first impressions of arriving at the club. But what did you think of that first press conference with the English media today? Very positive. I thought he communicated well. He was clear. He was charismatic. He smiled. He looked relaxed. And I'm saying bring it on.

But I also remember coming out of Ralph Rangnick's first press conference and he also came across really well. But encouraging. I'm going to be marking him 9 or 10 out of 10. I don't think he put a foot wrong. It is a watershed in one's life when Manchester United have a manager who's younger than you for the first time. A permanent manager. And that happened to me today. But also, I know we're going to get into more detail here. This point about physicality was one of the things I took note of.

What do you think he meant? Fitness or strength? Because they're two completely different things. Are this team or this squad not fit enough or does he want them to be physically stronger? So I made a few notes. I think all Manchester United fans would have been nodding along going, bring it on. We like the look of this guy. He's new. He's fresh. He's the shining new toy. Let's enjoy playing with it and bring it on. Great. I wish him all the best.

But we all know how difficult a job he's got. Speaking of new and fresh, a man has just taken a seat alongside me, Laurie, not Ruben Amorim. You've just been finishing your article for Athletic Subscribers, giving your first impression of the first impression set. Carl's had his view on it, Andy's had his view on it. What do you think? Yeah, I thought you were going to call me shiny then as well. But yeah, I'd love to know what Andy's toy sets are like.

I was really impressed and I don't know if you know, but obviously I went to Braga, so it wasn't quite my first impressions. I'm still milking that one. When did you go there? Let's move on. I was really impressed because he...

I had a humility to him that I think is important, but at the same time, a real confidence, clearly, and a steeliness, I think, in what he was saying. There was a couple of moments where it felt like warning shots to players. I believe in them now. I really do, truly. But if they don't follow my instructions, then you'll face the consequences. I believe in you until you prove me wrong.

for believing in you, basically. Thanks for remembering the quote more accurately. Something like that. I was trying to paraphrase it. And there were other moments as well. I mean, we need to run back more. I thought that was really interesting, as I've touched on in my piece, that the footage that they released this week was obviously showing them running back quite a lot. And so clearly Amarin will have had to agree to which clips are going out there.

And you sort of feel like maybe all managers say that when they come in, you know, this team needs to improve fitness wise. Every manager I've ever heard take over a team mid-season says the team is not fit enough. They don't necessarily say they need to run back more. Yeah.

Yeah. Which, I mean, it raised a laugh in the room, didn't it? Because it was like, you guys, I think you'll agree with me there on that one. And he did, you know, sort of break the fourth wall, if you like, by addressing us more than once. I mean, he actually said that us journalists don't believe in these players and we think that they can't work and he does. And so, I mean, I suppose... He was looking me in the eye at that moment.

Has he read your piece? Has he heard you on PLP? Where's he seen this? No, I think I was representative of the collective at that moment. But yeah, he was looking at me and he said, you don't believe in these players. I was like, I like a couple of them. Yeah, just a couple. And also, I think the kind of strongest quote was probably him saying...

It's my way or else, you know, there's no second way. As a coach, you can come in and you can try and adapt or you can do it your way. I 100% believe in my way, no doubts. And even though it's midway through the season, I know it's not, you know, the ideal time to be doing this. He said he's going to have to adapt some players. And even though we might see the same names on the team switch on Sunday, their positions will be different.

He was absolutely resolute in his belief in his abilities to instill this new system into them. And I think that was, it echoed what we heard. Jose Mourinho came up, didn't he, a couple of times

A guy that he studied under at Carrington for his internship and who he clearly holds as an example for Portuguese managers all over because it showed what can be done from a small country. But again, that humility and he said, but I've not won a European Cup, have I? I'm not coming in as a champion like that. So I appreciate that I'm coming from a different point of view.

Yeah, I thought that was interesting that Mourinho got brought up. I mean, he was directly asked about him, but the point, Carl, about Mourinho allowing Portuguese coaches to believe in themselves and believe that people born in that country can be European champions, can be successful in the Premier League, I thought was an interesting point. Just in terms of

What I thought about him, and you've kind of touched on it, was just like the openness and the honesty it felt. There was a real integrity to the way he conducted himself. But it didn't feel like the first time he'd been sat in that room. It didn't feel like it was the first time that he was answering our questions. Maybe that's because there's been such a big build-up to this and we've heard him speak at Sporting. Laurie's mithered him over there. And we've sort of become used to seeing that face and hearing that voice.

But he felt comfortable, which considering the situation United are in, considering this is a huge step up for him, considering it's a move to a new league, a new country, all that sort of stuff. I actually found that to be the most positive thing for me. It's a good word, Isma, the one I didn't really use before I came up to Manchester. Uh,

Laurie, did you not get annoyed that Amrithin had gone, hey, it's you from the Braga game? I actually thought there's some recognition there, you know. Only one of us chickened out of speaking Portuguese, Carl. I didn't even get a question in there. So look, I'll get him next time. Wait till he gets a level six on Duolingo. There you go. I think that was an odd press conference.

For one, no one mentioned anything about Ipswich, which, I mean, there are some press conferences with Man United, I imagine, never gets asked about the opposition, but there you go. For two, everyone was so swept along by Amarin's aura, as the kids say, that no one asked him about team news. So, unfortunately, I don't know if Luke Shaw or Lenny are available to play on Sunday. Or Mason Mount, or Kobi Beinu, or Tyrone Malassia.

etc etc etc we'll have to stay tuned to mutv or other club media to find that stuff out when we talk about just how relaxed he was there one thing that really took me away he was actively listening to those questions there wasn't uh now every now and again you listen to a politician give a speech and it becomes very very clear what is the quote the politician wants to make the headline what's the thing they want to make the headline and over the

dozen maybe 20 questions there are still an embargo section that'll come out later the questions that um Amram was asked there wasn't any sort of repeat phrase that you're going that's the one he wants to be the headline that's the one he wants to be the headline I'm sure there'll be two or three that'll be clipped up but there's nothing that I can in a word he really want every United fan to know this he just genuinely he asked him a fair question he gave you a fair answer which that's not something you get with a lot of Premier League managers

I think he will have had some stuff prepared. I thought he was prepared, to be honest. Yeah. I think the right man at the right moment, I felt like that was a phrase in his mind that he wanted to convey because he said it a couple of times and it feels like a right fit for sort of echoing him. But yeah,

So it's work then? Yeah, exactly. For the message that he wants to convey, right? You know, you might not know that much about me. You might have doubts about the system that I'm implementing. You might have doubts about the current squad and the people running the club. But in this moment, I am the right person. I think that can convey a certain confidence. And I think just on your point there, Carl, I mean, it's kind of an unveiling press conference. If someone had asked about Ipswich, there would have been... But it wasn't an unveiling press conference. That was just a standard match preview. The very key thing

was it wasn't an unveiling press conference despite the fact nine journalists had travelled over from Portugal to talk to him. It was an interesting vibe and you are right, he did mention about being the right person at the right time. He did twice say he was different because there were questions about Mourinho and he said he's different, I'm different and he did also bring up his youth.

More than once saying, well, this is me trying to put two and two together. I got the impression he was trying to say him being 39 years of age and younger to some of these players currently going means he could be able to relate to them more and get his ideas across to them more, which is encouraging. Definitely. And so just to finish off that, in the moment he mentioned that as well, he was saying,

He was different to Jose Mourinho because when he entered, he had Frank Lampard in his dressing room, for example, which to me sort of suggested a self-policing dressing room and whether he's sort of saying, well, this one might need a bit more management, but at least I can kind of communicate with them on a certain level because of my age. Yeah, the youth aspect was definitely an important point that he wanted to press home. And that was one of the things I picked up with on one of those Portuguese journalists that Carl spoke about a moment ago after the press conference.

My name is Nuno Luch from SIC TV. And you're over here because Ruben Amarim is the new Manchester United manager. What did you think of his first press conference?

For me it's not a surprise. We know Ruben Amorim is a very, very good person. He's an honest guy and always speaks honestly and looks at the problem in front. Yeah, we call it forthright. I'm not sure what the Portuguese translation is, but he meets things head on. He said today that...

the gold is win match to match until the end of the season this is a gold I think the Ruben will repeat the strategy of sporting these seven months until the end of the season will prepare the real season next season

clean some players in the dressing room that don't think in the collective but think in themselves. Ruben doesn't like the players that think before in themselves at the club. I think we'll take some young players

because Ruben is very good to take young players to the academy, to the first team. And I think this Moss is very good for him because the situation is very good for him. The club is not in a good position. We'll arrive with the time to prepare for the next season.

And I think in the next season, it's possible that United will win the Premier League or fight to win the Premier League. You see his impact being that big that quickly? Yeah, I think at the end of the season, maybe sign with...

one or two or three very, very good players. But the players to come here to play, not to come here to look what's happened. Like Gheorghe Eras in Sporting arrived to play and arrived to start.

I think if we'll see players, right players to the right positions that Man United need. I checked the weather this morning in Lisbon, it's 20 degrees and sunshine. Are you sure that he's done the right thing? Yeah, it's very, very difficult to work here. It will be dark in an hour. But when you arrive to the Premier League, I think you don't think about the weather. Good.

Good job. Thank you very much. Thank you, thank you. Yeah, thank you to Nuno for doing that with me. Just to paint the picture, that's on a small balcony just outside the press conference room at the training ground where there was probably about seven or eight journalists doing live reports following the press conference. That's very rare, even for a club of the stature of Manchester United to have that level of direct interest in the press conference and sort of people telling the world basically what happens

First impression Ruben Amari made as the Manchester United manager. Lots of Portuguese interest, like Carl said, but also BBC News were here, ITV News were here. That's rare, just to give you that. And if you heard some of the beeping in the background, that's because work is continuing here at the training ground as well to change around the first team facility, which...

Ruben himself referred to actually in the press conference too. Andy, on this point of youth, I understand it's a sore subject. Laurie and I, not so much Carl, are just clinging on to our record of never having a Manchester United manager who's younger than us. But yeah, like you mentioned before, it's gone that record, mate, hasn't it? Yeah, it's gone. And I spoke to several Portuguese journalists myself today saying,

like the one quoted, they're optimistic. They're proud of their, their compatriot. I noticed your own question, Ian, when you became the first male non-Man United member of staff to ask Ruben Amarin a question. You'll never sing that. Yeah. He actually gave it. He gave a good answer. He used the word dreamer. And don't we all dream a little bit with football? He said he believes in himself. And I thought that was good. And I know Laurie's asked him questions about,

When he went to Braga on that great expedition, which was up there with Scott going to the South Pole, Hillary and Tenzing going to Mount Everest. Mitten going up the Himalayas. Neil Armstrong. Oh, no, no. Kilimanjaro killed it. Never mind. Buzz Aldrin and Laurie going to Braga. Laurie's just hit me in the arm because I got that wrong. So we all want him to do well. Portugal wants him to do well.

everyone's fascinated to see not just how he does well in the medium term, but what happens at Ipswich on Saturday. Because he's dropping hints there that you're going to see evidence straight away. Don't think much will happen on Saturday, but Sunday could be interesting. Sunday, sorry. Sorry, Sunday. At Portman Road. Hey, I was there last time, boys. That's how old I am. Was Amarim born? He would, yeah. I love how he's dignifying that with a genuine thought.

I saw United win the league there in 94 when one of my mates who became a responsible school teacher jumped in the river Orwell by the ground. You know, you go all that way and you jump into a fast-flowing river. Is that what the river's called next to Portman Road? The River Orwell? I think so. I'll be devastated if I've got that wrong. From the banks of the river Orwell. Orwell.

Let me just consult my maps when the next person is answering. Is that right? The rest of the county of Suffolk, from Ipswich to Felixstowe. There you go. There you go. Above Ipswich, there is no is there a bit of gibbing? Yeah, Wikipedia says you're right. It's not going to be wrong, is it? Get him nodding. Double sauce there. Yeah, I knew that, yeah. I miss Ipswich. It was a good ground. It's the biggest ground in East Anglia and Suffolk, if I'm not mistaken. It's a huge game for Manchester United. Yeah.

Amarin will go there with every single United fan behind him. Half of Portugal will behind him as well. And I keep just saying, bring it on. We're excited. And that word Dreamer in your answer was what we all want to do.

This episode is supported by Merrill. With a dedicated Merrill advisor, you get a personalized plan for your financial goals. And when plans change, Merrill's with you every step of the way. Go to ml.com slash bullish to learn more. Merrill, a Bank of America company. What would you like the power to do? Investing involves risk. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, registered broker-dealer. Registered investment advisor. Member SIPC.

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Right, let's talk more then about Sunday. Before we do that, Laurie, though, Nuno in his answer predicted that Manchester United can challenge, I don't know why I'm laughing, Manchester United can challenge for the Premier League title next season. That's how much faith he's got in the new man sat in that seat, actually, or Kyle's seat, I think it was, giving his club media interview a short time ago. Are you feeling that way? His team haven't played yet. Yeah.

I mean, yeah, I suppose that's what sort of evidence does to people. They've seen it over in sporting, haven't they? You know, two titles after they'd gone 19 years without one. So clearly they've got that belief that he emphasised again. Belief was another word he kind of kept repeating. And I mean, yeah, that would be a huge stretch for them to actually challenge next season because, you know, Pep Guardiola signed on for another year at least. And...

We revealed that exclusively a few weeks ago, didn't we? Did I say that on this podcast? You didn't, no. Oh, did you? Maybe. Okay, very good. Look at you trying to claim it as well. Showed how much attention I was paying there. It was the day of Amrim and Ten Hag and all that, to be fair. And we did our little bit. Okay, very nice. Well done. Well done. Yeah, exclusive. Why didn't you just be tweeting this and getting it on? Just said it was a feeling at the time, then after his press conference that day. Okay. We've

A few of us have had a feeling as well. But actually it was Sam Lee. I've got to give credit to my athletic colleague a couple of days ago whilst I was in Altrincham watching that under-21s match. It sort of flashes up on your phone. So anyway, I'm getting off the point.

Pep Guardiola staying for another season. So to topple that will be difficult, although obviously going from this season they have looked a little bit shaky. It's more about United, right, isn't it? It's more about how much can he get into this team. That's what he said as well. Yeah, and that's what you want. You want a manager, a head coach of Manchester United to focus on what he's able to do, what his players are able to do and kind of sod the rest.

Yeah, Carl, it was interesting actually. Manager, head coach, even Amerim sort of used different terms during the press conference. And he was pressed at one point about exactly who has the final say on transfers, which maybe reveals more about his actual title and role than him getting mixed up between manager and head coach. Indeed, he said,

He said, "I think it's all together, but the final word should be the manager. Not because it is your right, but because it's your responsibility. I have to understand the league and then when everything's aligned, everyone is on the same page, we can buy and sell players." Which, yeah, you can imagine the Speccy nerd, which is normally me going, "Well, actually, you're not the manager, you're the head coach." And then he was asked again, "Does he have the final say?" And he said, "It's not the final, but I have a great responsibility when we choose the players."

Interesting answer. One of the big distinctions between head coach and manager typically is the say in recruitment. You would think with Dan Ashworth, Jason Wilcox and others around, Ameren being head coach means there's more time to be focused on the X's and O's and the training ground than deciding the players. But I did really like what you said about I have to understand the league first.

I mean, this could be a point where Carrington grows in importance between now, the January window and even the summer window as Amarim's more likely to turn to what he's got in the youth teams rather than saying, I absolutely need this one player. Although we've not actually heard the Portuguese translation yet. He did a little section at the end of the press conference in Portuguese, Amarim, and I heard Jacare mentioned a couple of times. So it'll be interesting to see exactly what's said about that. Maybe it'll even drop in our inboxes while we're recording this.

Andy, what do you think we'll see at Ipswich? Oh, he's rubbing his head. Oh no. Listen, Andy just really put his head in his hands there thinking about United having to play another game of football again.

It's non-stop now, mate, isn't it? Right the way through. This is it. The brakes are over now. I think he'll go with the three stroke five at the back right from the start. He said in his conference that it's not that much of a difference. He said it's his way. It can change the small things.

He's picked up on United losing the ball too often. The running back, which you've already mentioned. Small things he said. He also says, call me naive, but I truly believe I'm the right guy here. So a little bit of humility as well. A little bit of realism. I think 95% of Manchester United fans will be expecting to win

at Ipswich and this wave starting and if you can do a Solskjaer and keep that wave going on and on then the points that he made about the players believing him and buying into his ideas they all become more pertinent however if that doesn't happen we're in for a bit of a struggle there are loads of games coming Ipswich have won one game unfortunately it was the last game they beat Tottenham away didn't they

So the 17th in the table. They're not a team who scores goals. They can see quite a lot of goals. Minus 10 goal difference. Manchester United have worked their way back up now to a zero goal difference. I think it's the first trip to it since 2002. Tickets are hard. Bring it on. I just want to see all these games. I want to see what Manchester United are like with the new manager. And I want to see evidence that

players are improved. And it can happen pretty quickly. We saw even under Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ugarte and Casemiro looking significantly better. Now, this is the main man. He's got clear ideas about, even though he's only been in for a couple of weeks. I referenced in the last podcast that he's seen as being really warm and the staff around him has seen as being really bright and switched on. So they've made a very good impression and that will continue if

and get a win at Ipswich. And United need to win. United are 13th in the table.

Yeah, that's been something that's been really painful to look at for the last fortnight, hasn't it, being 13th? I mean, just in terms of Ipswich form that you mentioned, obviously the win against Tottenham before the international break, undoubtedly the highlight of their season so far. A draw with Leicester before that, so they doubled the points tally in the previous two Premier League matches. They were unlucky at Brentford as well, a 90th minute goal there, depriving them of a point when they'd led Tottenham.

Obviously, Brentford's home form has been really good this season, but losing 2-0 to Everton before that, 4-1 at West Ham to the struggling sides around them. United should be winning this game, Laurie, shouldn't they, even with a brand new manager? But the complicating factor is that probably the man in the opposite dugout knows more about this squad than

than the one sat in the United dugout. Yeah, surely, right? I mean, I know it's a while since he left, three years, right? But, yeah, Kieran McKenna was obviously a coach at United even before, well, under Jose Mourinho, right? That was when he first got promoted to being an assistant and then kept that role, was given a lot of license to coach by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and I think,

was notified by a lot of people that he was a really good coach from the get-go. You had people like Nicky Butt, you know, who's pretty hard to impress, I would say, you know, sort of thinking that this guy had something special about him. But then at the same time, you've got players sort of thinking, is he too young? Is he a bit more like a school teacher for us? And so that, you know, maybe that'll be something that Amarin, you know, comes into contact with. You've got guys... His coaches as well are even younger. Yeah, 10 years younger.

Yeah, 30. I think one, his assistant, turned 30 on Thursday and the other one, 28. They've got Instagram accounts, you know what I mean? When we talk about being able to communicate with the current player now, maybe you need an Instagram account just to show you're au fait with that kind of stuff. Do they use TikTok?

I've not actually gone that deep into their social media profiles yet, but let's have a look at that. That's the next step. That's a week two activity, isn't it? Exactly. I haven't really got TikTok, so this will be a breach into the internet. Oh, okay. All right. Even I'm not properly down with the kids. But I think that McKenna's a really fascinating person.

person to have in the opposition dugout. Even the people that appointed Amarin know all about McKenna because they spoke to him around the FA Cup final and he is seen as someone with a real momentum behind him. I mean, to get two promotions back-to-back with that Ipswich squad is absolutely fantastic work and to get them playing the kind of football that they are in the Premier League now as well, I think he's been a bit more pragmatic in terms of how he's approaching things. He changed to a back five at Spurs in the last game to get the win but he's got some quality players there. Liam De Lappe

I mean, he'll take a shot from anywhere. So you've got to be careful of that. And so I think that maybe does feed into who Amarin picks a little bit for the game. I wonder if he goes more defensive with his wingbacks than, you know, kind of wildcard-like. I mean, I think Anthony was kind of there because he was in the building, right? As the right wingback.

becoming the hot take this week that isn't it we had a few people talking about that after the press conference as well with these predictions that Anthony's going to be a world beating win back and save Manchester United 60 million quid next summer yeah I think if he the thing is if he starts and Garnaccio doesn't that is going to cause huge issues so I don't think that will happen you know will Garnaccio want to be a wing back I doubt it would

Does he fit as a number 10? I doubt it. That's the fascinating aspect for me, the most interesting player anyway, because you sort of think Bruno and Ahmad as the 10s behind maybe Rashford. I mean, that's another debatable one now, it seems, you know, with Hoyland, obviously, the customary striker, you know, does he...

mix it up a little bit I think Maynard his relationship there was clearly shown by the conversation he had with him in the footage that we saw and Ugarte's played with him before so the back three will be interesting as well I think he will pick what he said to us there was the line-up might not look familiar to you but the positions they're in will be different so maybe it'll be similar kind of personnel but just tweaked a bit

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Garnaccio and Rashford are probably the two. Someone asked about that in the press conference, didn't they? Great question. Yeah, I don't know who asked it, Laurie. But yeah, they're the two for me, Carl, that maybe are not the most automatic fits with this system. I mean, the Ten Hag liked inverted wingers, but the use of the dual tens is slightly different.

And you include Christian Eriksen, Mason Mount who can also play in those 10 slots as well. You've got a lot of competition. I think Garnaccio might be... I think both Garnaccio and Rashford are not the defenders you'd want to instantly go into that wing-back position. If you're looking at the... He can't play Rashford wing-back, can he? No, I don't think Rashford is defensively inclined enough to be a wing-back. And I think Garnaccio is probably too physically slight. I'm looking at players like Ben White. I'm looking at players like Vardy or...

the people who are asked to defend that way in the Premier League are big, big, big units. You're a target at the back post of the wise, aren't you? As well. And that's definitely going to be a thing Amarin's probably looking at as well. So I think both Garnaccio and Rashford will be options more in attacking positions. However, we're looking at those four games Rudra and Nisro was in charge for. The best attacking combinations came when Fernandes was close to Ahmed.

So maybe Amarin's more inclined to keep those two as your tens and then having a player up top. I think Coylan should be given another run as your number nine. So look,

Even if there are questions as to how good this Manchester United squad is, there are certainly enough bodies and enough options that the starting line-up against Ipswich will probably not be the ending line-up. So to have a player of Garnaccio's quality, we know Garnaccio's really good off the bench. My noise wouldn't be out of joint if Garnaccio or Rashid were on the bench and came off, especially Garnaccio. I mean, I truly believe Garnaccio is a really quality player against tiring legs.

He said he's going to risk a little and push in the first moment. So it looks like he's going for it straight away. He knows that wins are a must.

He also said that this team was built for a different system. But as we've reported on this podcast, I've been of the firm understanding that the players are tactically adaptable, even though it's slightly paradoxical saying that because when Eric Ten Hag did try and get to change systems and tactics, some of the players didn't like that.

And I think Laurie's point about the young coaches is really a relevant one. The first few days, everyone's smiling, everything's great. But what if you're one of them players who doesn't feature in the first four matches? You get the oomph, don't you? Lads in their 20s, some of them younger than the players, some of them significantly younger than the players. How young do you reckon they can go with coaches? Do you reckon if they put like a nine-year-old in, that would be an issue?

Probably. If we get a coach who is 25, that's when I'm going to start. He's 28, Candido. 28, okay, fine. But when he's like 25, I'm like, oh God, no, come on, come on. It's a serious point though, where if you're someone, and I don't want to pick Casimiro out as some sort of troublemaker, but if you're Casimiro, you've achieved as much as you've achieved in your football career,

And you have a coach who's 28 years old, who's done great things with sporting, I'm sure, and Amarant speaks very highly of him. But if you're faced with him telling you to do something different than what you've been doing throughout your career...

That is a difficult task for that coach, isn't it? It is. But also, if you're a 28-year-old, 28, 29, 30-year-old coach and you're meeting Casemiro, you probably aren't going to tell Casemiro to do something he hasn't done for the majority of his career. You're probably, your first question is going, right then, Casemiro, what's the thing you really like doing? And what's something you can do with a bit more help now you are...

A little bit. You see, I'm slowing down. You sound like me talking to my four-year-old daughter in negotiations. I think one of the big things from that central midfield unit, the two in central midfield, so Casemiro and another, let's say, so it could be Mane, it could be Ugarte, is what Ruud keyed in on. Let's make sure the gaps between you aren't massive so Casemiro has to run up and down because Casemiro's body is not what it used to be.

And I think that's what the coaches question. Not, Casemiro, I need you to do something you're not comfortable doing. But, Casemiro, what's the thing you need help with the most? And I'll go out and do that. We know Casemiro is incredibly professional in terms of... I don't want to pick out Casemiro too much, but just an example. Because Casemiro is a player over the age of 30 who has won five Champions Leagues. Not because...

reputation of Casemiro before and I think that's a challenge but also I think you don't get to be a 29 year old coach of a top team be it sporting or Manchester United without knowing how to talk to people who are also older than you from what I've just heard from Amarin he knows how to press the right buttons in competitors to get them to work I came away from that press conference going I don't care how cold it is outside right now Amarin's probably going to be able to say the right things to make these players want to track back

which is something that no United manager has managed to do consistently. I know Amir will probably be able to do it between now and Christmas. Can he do it past Easter, towards the end of the season, in season two, and maybe even season three?

Maybe, yeah. He was sort of hinting at the fact that this two and a half year deal he's signed might not be enough to see the full version of Amarillo's Manchester United. So that's a conversation for some point in the future. But Carl mentioned the weather there, Laurie. I mean, it is warming up this weekend in the UK, but we are expecting Storm Bertie.

Bertie! Bertie, which some of the people in the press conference suggested that Manchester had been feeling for quite some time and not just this weekend. I mean, at least they've not gone the full hog and stormed Bertie Blue Nose.

I've just hit the nail on the head too much there, sorry. Too on the nose. On the blue nose. Yeah, no, it's very cold. It was ice. Well, no, it's 15 degrees at the weekend. Is it? Yeah, it's just going to be really wet and really windy. So I don't know what you're...

Fringe is going to do, but you have to pack the hairspray when you're on the way to Portman Road. Yeah, the bumper size hairspray is coming with me. I can't look dishevelled on Ruben Hammerin's first game in charge, can I? Not on international Premier League television with me, mate, of course. Andy, come on then. Predictions time. How's it going to go? United will win. Even...

With Storm Bertie. Redditch who used to have a cartoon strip, Bertie Magoo, The Bitter Blue. And it was all about this comic Manchester City fan. Everything went wrong in his life. It was very good. I think the point about the coaches making a good impression, don't take that for granted. Because when Carlos Quiroz came in, he's another Portuguese player.

He didn't make a good first impression. He went up to senior players like Ryan Giggs and said, Giggs, where is the player I once knew? And he's like, hi, oh, I'm Ryan, by the way. Nice to meet you. And straight away, noses were put out of joint. And my initial feedback was,

is that the new coach is, as I said the other day, extremely warm. And even the people around him, the new staff are really impressive. I mean, that's what somebody told me. That person would have said to me the opposite if it wasn't true. So there's this groundswell of good feeling. All the staff at the club, and specifically the ones at Carrington who are seeing the new coach and his staff every day, they really want it to work. They're sick of...

floundering of working under systems that are not working and start brightly at Ipswich. Start with a win and then go into a very winnable game against Bodo Glimt. We've got Everton at Old Trafford. Tough one against Arsenal away coming up. But there's a lot of winnable games for the new manager. How do you see this first outing? Tricky. Tricky at the start. I'm sure McKenna's got some

good set piece routines he's worked on for Magician Knight in the first half at least but yeah I was joking that this is going to be a frustrating draw and then now I've seen Amarin in the flesh I'm like oh no United won the lot built the statue. You've been carried away like Nuno in response to it. Just that little thing of Amarin saying we need to improve our physicality we need to not lose the ball as much I'm going you really have

about how to get the most out of this squad as it currently is rather than talk about, oh, it's going to be a working process or, oh, this is going to be blah, blah, blah, blah, blah until the January transfer window opens up. He's not named any players from the academy he wants to whisk away and transform into a wing-back yet, but are you already...

get a sense that he has a very clear idea as to what he wants. And Andy's right. There are a bunch of winnable games between now and Christmas. There is a really good chance to win, to build some momentum. I know Manchester United are 13th in the league table right now, but you rack up a couple of wins, you're not too far off 4th.

You win your next two Europa League games and you're straight back into that top eight situation in the league phase as well. I think he is coming in at a good time in that regard because United are at such a low ebb. So raising these players even back to their level should see the table improving both competitions almost automatically. I'd said this before the season started and everyone yelled at me because I kept saying, eventually Manchester United are going to get a left-back. But eventually Manchester United are going to get a left-back. And that's another way United can go from being 13th to 14th.

Actually, they're not going to get a left back. They're going to get a left wing back and a left centre back. And I'm sure Amrin's got... We could wait a whole season in Manchester United and not have a left back. Sorry, you've really cracked me up there. It's true though, isn't it? The last time United went to Portman Road, Andy mentioned it before, 2002, a 1-0 win for United. Ruud van Nistelrooy, penalty. Run that back, 1-0 win for Manchester United. Bruno Fernandes, penalty. 2024, that would do, wouldn't it?

Yes, you'd like to see maybe more than that, but I think ultimately a win would be sufficient.

Yeah, it's a fascinating first game for him, isn't it? You know, over in East Anglia against a guy that, you know, was in the running at one point for the job that he's now got. How close do you think he was to being in proper consideration for it? He was definitely in proper consideration. I mean, they consider a lot of people, but I think they were certainly an attraction to a guy like McKenna. And Amarine is probably just that few more steps along than McKenna because...

Ineos, it felt like, from what people were saying, wanted someone who was a coach, process-driven, and was young on an upward trajectory, had that certain quality, star power maybe you call it. And McKenna probably doesn't have, from what I've seen, the kind of...

maybe natural charisma that kind of authority in a press conference but he's very sharp and very intelligent and he says what he means and so I think that's why they were looking at him you know genuinely you know maybe he would have you would have felt like he needed someone a bit more an elder statesman maybe around him given the scale of United but then again he has worked here before so you know that wouldn't necessarily have overawed him but anyway it didn't it didn't progress um

He obviously didn't want to wait around and ended up signing a new lucrative deal, Ipswich, from what I'm told. I think it is a deal that puts him among some of the highest earners in the division, which is quite something, but you can understand why. So anyway, they moved in a different direction, kept with Eriksen Haag and then kind of came back around to the idea of Ruben Amarin. I think for people observing,

That's understandable because this is a guy who's actually won things at the top flight. I mean, people might say that getting Ipswich promoted back-to-back is equally as impressive. I don't know how you sort of compare those kind of achievements, but whatever the case, I think it's a really fascinating game. And yeah, I suppose you're right, actually, on reflection, any kind of win will be good enough. Okay, that seems a good place to leave it.

there's our take then on our first impressions in Manchester of Ruben Amorim as the Manchester United manager because you had your first impression that trip that you mentioned a couple of times anyway that's it for Talk of the Devils today let us know what you think devilspod at theathletic.com if you want to get involved in the conversation by all means send us a voice note when you've seen Ruben's Reds in action for the very first time and we'll speak to you again

after Ipswich. Thank you, Andy. Thank you, Kyle and Laurie, for cuddling up with me in this interview room this afternoon at the Manchester United training ground. It's been emotional, hasn't it? Let's see what the future holds. Onwards. Take care. Thanks for listening. Bye-bye. The Athletic FC Podcast Network.

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