Amorim: Why Top Managers Failed To Replicate Ferguson’s Spirit At Old Trafford

Man Utd Ready To Hijack £90m Rated Arsenal Target

Ruben Amorim believes Manchester United have failed because they have played in the shadow of Sir Alex Ferguson – instead of in his spirit, as reported by TheSun.

The new Old Trafford boss has not been shy of making huge statements to players in his early training sessions this week.

In a video released by United on Monday, Amorim, 39, drilled his stars who were not on international duty.

But SunSport can reveal the players have been ‘blown away’ by his immediate impact with ‘Mourinho-style confidence’.

Fergie left 11 years ago and a string of managers, including most-recently sacked Erik ten Hag, have not won the Premier League since.

A source said: “He told them that top managers have not replicated Sir Alex’s success because they have lived in his shadow, rather than getting their team to play with his spirit.

“Even before Monday’s first session, the players have been very impressed.

“Then, after the sessions, they are blown away by his energy, approach and confidence.

“There’s definite Mourinho vibes in the way he speaks and his self belief – but the style is his own.

“The players think he’s very approachable and that he will understand them. Some of them are calling him Mourinho 2.0.”

Amorim was mentored by ex-United boss Jose Mourinho and even had a week internship at Old Trafford with him in 2018, shortly before his two-year spell as manager came to an end.

Portuguese boss Mourinho was also one of Amorim’s first calls when he was offered the United job with the original Special One telling him ‘to go for it’.

The source added: “He told the ones he’s seen so far that the talent in the squad is unbelievable – but they need to start playing as a team.”

The new head coach met some players in the gym at Carrington last week, with others on holiday or with their national sides.

But the likes of Luke Shaw, Casemiro, Marcus Rashford, Leny Yoro, Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo were part of early drills in a new 3-4-3 shape and with a new style on Monday.

Amorim is desperate to give United a new identity and stamp his mark on the team from day one – with his first game at Ipswich on Sunday.

Amad Diallo, Antony, Rashford and Jonny Evans all uploaded glowing social media posts after their first sessions under the new head coach and his backroom team.

Amorim also told players he likes a settled team – but they all have the chance to impress him on the training pitch.

Portugal stars Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot have been away on international duty but had already told their club team-mates they will be impressed and how good Amorim is in training.

The former Sporting manager has been very affectionate with the players and told them it is only natural he will have pre-conceived ideas about them – but they have the time to change his minds.

In his first interview, Amorim told fans they would have an idea immediately of how he wants his team to play.

United are 13th with a zero goal difference – but only four points off Chelsea in third with the Prem returning on Saturday.

And the stars on the training ground were left with no doubt on the shape and system he wants to play from the outset.

The source added: “One thing the players are going to have to learn fast is that it is imperative they stick to his system and principles.

“He gets how they live, how they want to work and how to get the best out of them. ”

“Because he’s only 39, he gets their fashion, their music and their feelings about the modern game.”

Mainoo was given special treatment by ex-midfielder Amorim in the first session.

The England star, 19, was getting instructions on where to receive the ball and spin into space.

Antony was given a right wing-back role in training – but with Dalot, Alejandro Garnacho and Noussair Mazraoiu away, it is unlikely he will play there at Portman Road.

Shaw is trying to regain fitness and he spent the 3-4-3 schooling to the left of Jonny Evans in the back three, with Yoro to the right.

Casemiro and Mainoo were in midfield with Rashford up front. Mount and Amad slotted into the No10 roles behind the striker.

The source added: “The players and club are energized. The other players will be anxious to get back to Carrington to prove themselves.”

TheSun.co.uk

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Liverpool Tracking Prolific Teenage Sunderland Striker

Liverpool intend to ‘raid’ Championship high-flyers Sunderland for the signature of 18-year-old academy talent Trey Ogunsuyi, according to reports.

Clubs increasingly want players from a young age and develop them in-house, rather than go into the top of the transfer market for established stars.

As well as identifying local talent that includes poaching academy players from other clubs. To that end, the pearl of Liverpool’s academy is Trey Nyoni, a player brought in from Leicester City at the age of 16. But they certainly aren’t alone in that tactic, with Manchester United notably snapping up prolific prospect Chido Obi-Martin from Arsenal earlier this year.

The Daily Mail writes that the Reds are now monitoring versatile forward Ogunsuyi, who has scored five goals in five appearances at Premier League 2 so far this season, playing with and against players up to several years older.

And while the Belgium junior international is yet to make a senior debut for Sunderland, the youngster has been named on the bench by Regis Le Bris three times.

Sunderland is a club where young players are currently thriving. The Black Cats are aiming to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017 and are doing it with a raw but talented squad – four of their five most used players so far this season are aged 23 or younger. Of those, two are 19-year-old Jobe Bellingham and 17-year-old Chris Rigg.

Liverpool’s own crop of youngsters also have plenty of promise. Jurgen Klopp famously relied on them during last season’s triumphant Carabao Cup run, although the aforementioned Nyoni is the only teenage to have accrued any first-team minutes so far under Arne Slot.

Premier League

Chelsea’s Curious Transfer Strategy Revealed With The Blues Demanding MORE Goals And Assists From Cole Palmer

Chelsea are scoring for fun, but they want to add even more firepower to their attack, according to reports

Chelsea quite literally cannot stop scoring — no team has netted more than Enzo Maresca’s men this term — but that isn’t stopping them from wanting more.

Holding the keys to scoring success at Stamford Bridge is one Cole Palmer — ranked the third-best attacking midfielder in the world currently by FourFourTwo — he has the most Premier League goals (11) AND the most assists (6) of anybody in his team.

Nevertheless, the Blues seem to want to try and get more out of him, and it seems they are closing in on a strategy to achieve just that.

Chelsea eye Liam Delap to add firepower to Cole Palmer-led attack

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap is high on Chelsea’s list, noting a lack of natural no.9 options, with just Nicolas Jackson fitting the bill.

The same reports have noted that his determination, strength and skill are attributes that have made the west London club consider the 21-year-old as a transfer target.

It suggests that Chelsea want even more from their attack, viewing Delap as a physical presence up front and someone that Palmer, already the creative king at Chelsea, can bounce off to increase his goal involvement even further.

Delap only arrived at Portman Road this summer, in a £20 million deal from Manchester City, but TEAMtalk reports that the Tractor Boys are hopeful of holding their man until at least the end of the season.

It’s easy to see why Chelsea view Delap as the perfect Palmer partner: the Ipswich forward has already six goals for the top-flight strugglers despite feeding off scraps — imagine what he might achieve with the service of his former fellow City academy product.

Crucially, Pep Guardiola’s side does hold a buyback clause on Delap, and it’s reported they haven’t ruled out activating it in the summer, but are unlikely to in January.

In FourFourTwo’s opinion, the theory works great on paper, but Delap may want to be wary about moving too soon.

He’s only six goals and a handful of appearances into his Premier League career — it’s an incredible start, but he’s got plenty of time ahead of him for a big move.

He will be the main man at Ipswich, having been loaned out and far down the pecking order at City, something which will only enhance his reputation. A turn of bad form at Chelsea, however, and we know just how many top talents they have waiting to step into the breach.

Premier League

Raheem Sterling’s Stance On Ending Arsenal Loan Early Revealed

Raheem Sterling has no intention of prematurely concluding his season-long loan spell at Arsenal, according to a report.

The former Liverpool and Manchester City forward was frozen out at Stamford Bridge by Enzo Maresca at the start of the season. Surprisingly left out of Chelsea’s squad for the first Premier League fixture of the campaign, Sterling sealed a west London exit on deadline day.

There was plenty of optimism about the deal at the time. Arsenal are reportedly paying less than half of Sterling’s £325,000 weekly wage – with Chelsea covering the remainder – and Mikel Arteta was excited to be reunited with a player he worked alongside at Manchester City.

However, Premier League starts have been hard to come by for Sterling and appearances of any length have stopped in recent weeks. The four-time top-flight champion has watched on as an unused substitute in Arsenal’s previous four matches across all competitions.

Sterling’s last league start for the Gunners was cut short in the 37th minute when Arteta was forced into a tactical reshuffle following William Saliba’s red card against Bournemouth in October. It was telling that the experienced winger was the player to be sacrificed.

Despite his minimal involvement, Sterling remains committed to Arsenal, according to the Evening Standard. The forward reportedly remains “determined” to win his place in the starting XI and is still considered a viable option for Arteta.

When Pep Guardiola’s former number two was asked if Sterling had been left on the sidelines for a specific reason this week, Arteta bluntly replied: “No.”

Arsenal’s boss has previously explained that Sterling’s lack of minutes has weighed heavily on him. “I would like him to play much more as I think he can impact the team in a very good way,” Arteta outlined earlier this month. “He’s very good in the dressing room and is absolutely desperate to play.”

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