Ruben Amorim sends Man Utd stars clear reality check ahead of first match in charge

Ruben Amorim has vowed to be Manchester United’s smiling assassin.

The new United manager insists he's Mr Nice Guy when he’s winning - but the 39-year-old Portuguese has warned the club’s stars that there will be no hiding place in the Old Trafford dressing room if they continue to under-perform.

Amorim evoked memories of Jose Mourinho telling the world that he was the Special One when he arrived at Chelsea in 2005 by describing himself as the Smiling One.

But the former Sporting Lisbon coach will not be afraid to shatter some egos if he has to. Amorim said: “You can be a positive person who understands that there are some places to have fun and some places to work hard.

“So I can be ruthless when I have to be. But, if you think as a team, I will be the nicest guy you have seen.

“I’m not someone who thinks to himself ‘I will be a different person’ and I’m not the kind of guy who wants to show he’s the boss.

“I think they (the players) will feel it in the small details - that I can be the smiling one but when we have a job to do, I will be a different person. And they understand that.”

Amorim has been given just two-and-a-half years to prove he can succeed where Erik ten Hag failed, despite the Dutchman being handed more than £600million to spend on new signings in just two years.

Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)

His first game as United boss takes him to Ipswich Town and a meeting with Kieran McKenna, the Irishman who was lined up to take over from Ten Hag in the summer.

Amorim has insisted that he will have the final say in the transfer market - but the Portuguese has been made aware by the club that funds may be limited. The Reds’ new boss promised to deliver on United’s traditional commitment to homegrown talent.

Amorim said: “It (young players) is the project of Manchester United. Nowadays, you need young guys, guys from the academy to bring that history of the club.

“They feel the club in a different way but also because you have all these rules with financial fair play. A player from our academy is so different to the players we buy or sell. Everything is connected, so I will try to help all the players - and especially the young ones.”

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