Ruben Amorim says it’s essential he has the “final word” on all transfer dealings at Manchester United.
The 39-year-old met the media for the first time on Friday, sparking excitement among the club’s supporters as they await his first game in charge on Sunday – a trip to Premier League new boys Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
Amorim arrives at Old Trafford with a soaring reputation having worked wonders with Sporting CP in Portugal. The Lisbon giants won all 11 of their Primeira Liga games this season under Amorim, scoring 39 goals and conceding just five, and also trounced Manchester City 4-1 in the convincing Champions League home win.
Things haven’t been so great for United, who are languishing in 13th in the Premier League table after winning just four of their first 11 matches. The club’s poor form forced the exit of previous manager Erik ten Hag, just months after the Dutchman’s contract was extended by another year.
Ten Hag had a say on a number of United’s summer signings, many of whom have failed to hit the ground running, and Amorim insisted he must also have a big say on the club’s transfer dealings in the future because ultimately the responsibility of winning matches rests on his shoulders.
“It has to be altogether,” Amorim said. “If you are a coach that came in here and already chose the players, you could be wrong because this is a football club for a long time and you as a coach do not know that.
“We have to work everybody together, and to do that we have to improve the process of recruitment. The data on the profile of the players we want.
“I have to have a strong position on that because I am the coach and I know how to play. It is altogether, but the final word should be the manager, not just because it is your right but because it is your responsibility, because in the end they will ask you the results.
“Altogether we must improve the process of recruitment. I have to understand the league. When everything is aligned and everyone is on the same page we can buy and sell players.
“It is not the final say, but I have a great responsibility when we choose players. That is because it is something that should be done in this way. I am the head coach so I have to choose the players.”
United’s new head coach also spoke positively about the challenge that lays ahead of him, asserting his belief that he’s “the right guy at the right time”. Time will tell for Amorim who also insisted that be successful in the role, he must be given time to bed in his ideas and philosophy.