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

Arsenal will be eager to get back to winning ways once the international break comes to an end. The Gunners have failed to win in four Premier League games and are yet to triumph in a match this month.

ESPN pundit Steve Nicol has criticised one Gunners summer signing for having “done zero” since arriving at the Emirates Stadium.

Steve Nicol deems Arsenal’s Raheem Sterling the worst signing of the season so far
The player in question is Raheem Sterling, who joined Arsenal on loan from Chelsea in the last few minutes on deadline day last summer.

Sterling has made eight appearances for the Gunners since his move from Stamford Bridge, of which four have been starts, and he has registered one goal.

Nicol deemed Sterling the worst signing so far in the 2024/25 Premier League season, something which baffled some of his colleagues.

Dan Thomas said: “Sterling seems a weird one, Stevie, out of everyone…” To which Nicol replied: “What’s he done?”

Thomas responded: “But what did you expect him to do? He’s going to be playing bits and pieces…”

Nicol said: “Let’s be honest, what has he done? He’s done zero.

“I mean, at the very least, come on and give Martinelli and Saka on the other side a break and push the rest of the players to be better.

“I mean, just all the things, all the reasons that he was brought.

“You know, use your experience, push the other two to be better, giving them competition, and then when you do get a chance, make it count.

“I mean, he’s done nothing, absolutely zero. (I expected) more than zero, I expected more than nothing at all, absolutely.

“Okay call me crazy, but if you sign somebody and they do nothing, that’s not good.”

What Raheem Sterling’s Arsenal colleagues have said about him
Nicol’s choice for the worst signing of the season so far certainly raised eyebrows among at least one of his colleagues at ESPN FC.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has sung Sterling’s praises, calling him “exceptional” just a few weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Oleksandr Zinchenko says Sterling can be unstoppable once he gets going.

“He’s the guy who can always make the difference, the impact he can can have for any team around the world is amazing honestly,” Zinchenko has said.

“I know him well and the skills and the desire, when he wants to on his day, he’s unstoppable.”

Arsenal are next in action on Saturday when they host Premier League high-flyers Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal have been dealt a major blow as Martin Odegaard is set to face at least three weeks on the sidelines, according to Norway’s national team doctor.

The Gunners skipper limped off midway through the second half during Norway’s 2-1 victory over Austria on Monday night after being on the receiving end of a poor challenge by Christoph Baumgartner.

The Norwegian manager admitted after the game that Odegaard had picked up a ‘bad’ ankle injury while national team doctor Ola Sand confirmed that the attacking midfielder would be given an MRI scan to reveal the full extend of the damage.

Odegaard was photographed on crutches as he boarded a private jet on Tuesday as he flew back to the UK to be further assessed by Arsenal’s medical team.

The Norway team doctor has now provided a fresh update after confirming that Odegaard is expected to be ruled out for a ‘minimum’ of three weeks. Sand warned that the injury could take even longer to heal and admitted that the Arsenal star is already a doubt for the international fixtures in October.

The doctor also revealed that Odegaard was ‘very worried’ about the injury and was in ‘extreme pain’, but they are confident that there is no fracture in the ankle or foot.

Minimum 3 weeks
Norwegian journalist Jan Aage Fjortoft cited Sand as saying:

“Injuries like this takes minimum 3 weeks. Everything else is bonus. And it can take longer time. Both Ståle (the national coach) and I know that next national games (10th of October) he will be very doubtful.

They are investigating the MR now. There is probably no fracture in his foot. Ankle injuries are very painful straight away. Martin had extreme pain. He was very worried”

This news will come as a major blow to Arsenal as they head in to a huge run of fixtures. If Odegaard is out for three weeks, he’ll miss Sunday’s NLD against Tottenham, the trip to Atalanta in the Champions League, next weekend’s huge title clash with Man City at the Etihad Stadium, the League Cup clash with Bolton and the visit of Leicester City to the Emirates at the end of the month.

Should the injury take longer to heal, Odegaard will also sit out the Champions League showdown with PSG and the Premier League clash with Southampton before the October international break starts.

This is the last thing Mikel Arteta needed ahead of such an important run of games. The Gunners boss is already going to be without new signing Mikel Merino for the next 6-8 weeks after he fractured his shoulder in his first training session. Riccardo Calafiori also returned home early from international duty after picking up a knock playing for Italy.

Takehiro Tomiyasu is on the sidelines while Gabriel Jesus has missed the last two games with a groin injury, so Arsenal already have a number of injury problems to deal with so early in the season.