RUBEN AMORIM is bewildered by Manchester United fans telling him he is doing a GOOD job.
Amorim gave a telling insight into his troubled reign at Old Trafford when asked what is the most common thing Red Devils supporters say when they meet him.
The Portuguese almost laughed at himself and revealed: “They say one thing that is really strange for me: ‘You are doing a good job.’
“It is so hard to understand sometimes. It’s really important for me.”
Amorim appreciates the support of the United faithful so much because he knows that his four months in the job cannot be considered a success at all.
United go into the home clash with Arsenal marooned in the bottom half of the Premier League table after just six victories — and eight defeats — in 18 top-flight matches on his watch.
Amorim, 40, openly admits to making mistakes — particularly in his handling of relationships with staff outside the dressing room.
He told TNT Sports: “When you are a player you just focus on you but when you are a manager you have to focus on a lot of people, not just the players but all the staff.
“All the staff are paying attention to you so you have to pay attention to that, and that is something that I didn’t do very well in the beginning here in Manchester because I was focused on the games.
“At the moment I am starting to get a really good connection with all the staff and the players.”
Well, all the staff that are still there after owners Ineos confirmed 200 more redundancies in the latest round of savage cost-cutting.
Amorim won respect from some non-football staff for saying that it was ultimately United’s struggles on the pitch that were responsible for people losing their jobs.
But some inside the dressing room were said to be less impressed about being called out by the new boss and the shadow of United’s incredible success under Sir Alex Ferguson hangs over Amorim — just like all those who have tried to follow in the legend’s footsteps.
Amorim revealed Fergie has been in touch, saying: “He already called me to give me some advice.”
The United boss also said he would consider altering his pre-match routine of handing a water bottle to his assistant in a bid to inspire a change in fortune.
Amorim added: “This is the time to change things, when you are not winning too much.”
Friends of Amorim sometimes feel that he offers too much of himself in interviews and press conferences.
And his answers to a quick-fire set of questions provided more revelations than you would normally expect.
The biggest message that came through was how grateful Amorim is for the fans continuing to believe in him when it seems as though he is doubting himself.
He said: “The way they support us, even when you are losing, in the bad moments, that is the most special thing.”
Amorim was a champion of Portugal both as a player at Benfica and as a coach with their Lisbon rivals, Sporting.
And he longs for the day when United fans can sing his favourite chant, their version of a John Denver classic, in celebration of winning their first Premier League crown since Fergie left in 2013.
Amorim said: “[Take Me Home,] Country Roads that they adapt is perfect. I really dream to win the title and listen to that song at Old Trafford.”
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