Ruben Amorim hails ‘special’ Old Trafford fans for ‘making me feel at home’

Ruben Amorim made a surprise admission after his first ever win at Old Trafford as he finally got the new era at Old Trafford underway in earnest.

United secured a crucial 3-2 victory over Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League for just their second win of the season, but perhaps more importantly, it was the first of the Amorim era at Old Trafford.

Rasmus Hojlund struck twice after the Norwegian visitors went 2-1 up following Alejandro Garnacho's opener in the opening minute on Thursday evening, handing Amorim their victory.

It made for a tense ending, but in the end the hosts saw victory to take three points and move up to twelfth in the Europa League League stage standings.

But speaking to TNT after the match in a refreshing and honest interview, the 39-year-old former Sporting boss made a surprising admission.

'I get anxious (before the match) because I don't know what's going to happen. We have no control over anything at the moment,” Manchester United's new head coach told TNT Sports.

'Of course we have an idea for every match, but I don't know the players and we haven't worked together much.

“We go to the match excited because we want to see different things, but at the same time you are anxious and nervous because we don't know how the match will go.”

Amorim's first game in charge came on Sunday when his new team traveled to Portman Road to take on Ipswich Town.

The Red Devils were held to a 1-1 draw, putting even more focus on Amorim's first night at Old Trafford on Thursday evening.

However, the Portuguese coach was quick to say he felt at home straight away, noting that he received a 'special' welcome at Old Trafford.

There was also a banner in the crowd, written in his native Portuguese, that read: “Bemvindo a casa Ruben” (Welcome home, Ruben).

'The first is that half the stadium doesn't know me. Does it really know me? I came from Portugal. I haven't done anything for this club yet.

'The way they make me feel at home is so special. It is not after (achieving) something – it is before something. It is something special and I will keep this until the end of my career.'

Much had been made of Amorim's well-known preference for a 3-4-3 formation, especially as United's squad was specifically built for a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.

This is especially relevant as their captain and arguably best player, Bruno Fernandes, plays as a central attacking midfielder by trade and would therefore have to step slightly out of his comfort zone.

Amorim opted to deploy his star in a central midfield role, slightly deeper than his regular position at United over the years, but one that allowed him to have a creative impact on the game.

'You feel that Bruno is the most experienced player, the pace. Sometimes we start the player and Bruno is the right man to start the right tempo of the piece,” Amorim said of his skipper.

“Then they played a back four, they closed inside, and we tried to switch plays all the time and Bruno is the best at that. That's why I think he's a midfielder.'