Ruben Amorim - Manchester United Head Coach

[Ish]

The problem with your second sentence is that it is 100% on the manager. Just think about Klopp, he joined the same type of structure, tried to be a manager with a committee but then suggested to the board that it would be better for him and the club to move to a structure that includes a DOF and also proposed Edwards as a candidate based on their shared experience within the committee.

We made poor excuses in two ways, first we state that they don't have support as if they didn't sign as managers and that this type of structure doesn't include any technical support that's the definition of the job. And the second point isn't an excuse per say but we ignore the fact that nothing prevent a manager from building a structure that support him or requesting a particular structure but it takes a level of humility that none of the managers we hired had.

Spot on, & full disclosure my side - I wasn't aware of the Klopp bit(s). I thought the structure was in place with Edwards etc. before he joined. So thanks for that.

I think sometimes (again, probably making excuses!), at this level, egos are a huge driver for these "high performing individuals" (players, managers alike). So when given the chance, most won't reject it & most would also think they're special enough to turn it all around - the more power for them, the better. But that doesn't excuse the fact - it's 100% on them, as you mentioned. A little bit of self-awareness or asking for help actually goes a long way. It wasn't helped that we had fairly clueless buffoons in charge either.

 

[Smashin]

He’s got charisma which is a big plus but is he almost too nice?

He’s gonna have to deal with a lot of shit (the press, lazy players, terrible refs) so I hope he’s got a bit of an edge to him as well.

The comment about play style was innocuous and fine in context but predictably the press have jumped all over it. I expect it will be brought up fairly regularly.

He's got a nice positive attitude and charisma specially with the press but indoors with the players the nice part has to be earned with hard work. He willl defend his players all the way as long as they give their 100%.

He also has that Pep obsessive workaholic side with rules. He's also smart when calling out players if he has to, just this season first CL game when asked if Quenda was nervous (he's 17) he replied in a humorous but serious way "couldnt imagine he is, since he overslept and arrived 2 mins late to pratice. Which was amazing since he still lives in our academy." So the kid punishment was to go through the "tunnel" (how do you call it in english? where you get slapped on the back) twice in pratice.

Dont expect him to comment about Refs performance in any way, he has never done it.

 

[UpWithRivers]

Where have I seen this quote ?
But he's actually right.

Even if this is not the proper quote. He said we shouldn't be as defensive. This is a very worrying. He just smashed City playing that way and Sporting have a sht load of goals this season. Why change it? ETH's biggest fk up was throwing his whole philosophy out the window and trying to play 'transition' football.
PLease for the love of all things dont change your philosophy. Yes tweak it to cope with the Premier league. Its very different. But not because you want to accomodate Rashford or to play the 'United Way' Or any other nonsense.

 

[saik]

So the kid punishment was to go through the "tunnel" (how do you call it in english? where you get slapped on the back) twice in pratice.

You mean this?

 

[Maagge]

Even if this is not the proper quote. He said we shouldn't be as defensive. This is a very worrying. He just smashed City playing that way and Sporting have a sht load of goals this season. Why change it? ETH's biggest fk up was throwing his whole philosophy out the window and trying to play 'transition' football.
PLease for the love of all things dont change your philosophy. Yes tweak it to cope with the Premier league. Its very different. But not because you want to accomodate Rashford or to play the 'United Way' Or any other nonsense.

Yesterday Sporting had like 27 % possession where they normally average over 60 %. So it's not like that's how they generally play.

 

[saik]

Even if this is not the proper quote. He said we shouldn't be as defensive. This is a very worrying. He just smashed City playing that way and Sporting have a sht load of goals this season. Why change it? ETH's biggest fk up was throwing his whole philosophy out the window and trying to play 'transition' football.
PLease for the love of all things dont change your philosophy. Yes tweak it to cope with the Premier league. Its very different. But not because you want to accomodate Rashford or to play the 'United Way' Or any other nonsense.

Please watch the full press conference. He's not patting himself on the back for that victory as he's says there's a lot of things that they got lucky with. Even Sporting don't normally play like they did yesterday with very little possession. He was talking in context of that game.

 

[tenpoless]

We really should stop looking at his quotes about United. He is still working for Sporting ffs. The time will come. Save your judgement.

 

[Smashin]

Even if this is not the proper quote. He said we shouldn't be as defensive. This is a very worrying. He just smashed City playing that way and Sporting have a sht load of goals this season. Why change it? ETH's biggest fk up was throwing his whole philosophy out the window and trying to play 'transition' football.
PLease for the love of all things dont change your philosophy. Yes tweak it to cope with the Premier league. Its very different. But not because you want to accomodate Rashford or to play the 'United Way' Or any other nonsense.

He wont change his philosophy but it's a mix of pragmatism, reality and desire to win.
In his 4 years at Sporting his teams, despite the same formation way of playing changed alot and evolved with better players (getting CB's better with the ball, wingers that could actually att/defend, etc...).
On his 1st season where we won the Championship we did not play head to head with Porto/Benfica (since they had better squads), he played more cautiously and got the results.
2nd into the 3rd we played more attacking football in those games and ironically we had worse results ( Amorim even admitted so in a press conference later on).
And for the past year and a half, at least internally, we just want the ball and score. I kinda lost track but we are at the 50th something game in a row always scoring.

So yea he likes attacking football but adapts to the players he has.

 

[The Red Thinker]

He wont change his philosophy but it's a mix of pragmatism, reality and desire to win.
In his 4 years at Sporting his teams, despite the same formation way of playing changed alot and evolved with better players (getting CB's better with the ball, wingers that could actually att/defend, etc...).
On his 1st season where we won the Championship we did not play head to head with Porto/Benfica (since they had better squads), he played more cautiously and got the results.
2nd into the 3rd we played more attacking football in those games and ironically we had worse results ( Amorim even admitted so in a press conference later on).
And for the past year and a half, at least internally, we just want the ball and score. I kinda lost track but we are at the 50th something game in a row always scoring.

So yea he likes attacking football but adapts to the players he has.

Music to my ears. Central philosophy but pragmatically applied for results. This was what ETH failed at. He refused to compromise or adapt to his team’s form/availability in seasons 2 and 3.

I have a question: how does he deal with bad elements in a group? I have read he has managed to motivate even the most toxic players at Sporting when he arrived. But I want to know how he approaches a team with a losing mentality and what he does when the team doesn’t apply his tactics. Can you shed some light on this please?

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Even if this is not the proper quote. He said we shouldn't be as defensive. This is a very worrying. He just smashed City playing that way and Sporting have a sht load of goals this season. Why change it? ETH's biggest fk up was throwing his whole philosophy out the window and trying to play 'transition' football.
PLease for the love of all things dont change your philosophy. Yes tweak it to cope with the Premier league. Its very different. But not because you want to accomodate Rashford or to play the 'United Way' Or any other nonsense.

Eh? Did you watch the match? They spent the vast majority of it in a very compact, defensive shape. And almost all their goals were scored on the break. City had 73% possession!

 

[TsuWave]

Its not comical. It's being cautious.

Were all optimistic but taking those tweets with a pinch of salt isn't exactly unreasonable.

The idea that you should stick with a bust because you’ve sacked managers previously is nothing short of comical. It is. And that’s a generous and polite assessment for the sake of being cordial.

I said the “b-but Ten Hag” stance is akin to it - not that it is the same, for clarification - because it is anchored in fear of the unknown and projection/assumption. If this is how you guys live your life, fair enough. Reads as extremely paralysing to me.

 

[Lentwood]

Thing is, we have never had an elite coach, so I can see why its difficult for fans.

We see teams across Europe being well coached, playing good football with good players.

How many times over the years have we seen players go from a well coached system to another team and look poor because they are not coached, at United almost all of our signings.

So I will give him a few months to coach these and then decide who doesn't make the cut.

Yeah I would agree.

I think Amorim will be pleasantly surprised. I think he'll find a group of very talented footballers who are low on confidence and befuddled by EtHs ridiculously complex instructions.

Simply giving them a bit of belief, putting some basics into place, simplifying their game and letting them enjoy playing football again will see a big upturn in results.

 

[VP89]

The idea that you should stick with a bust because you’ve sacked managers previously is nothing short of comical. It is. And that’s a generous and polite assessment for the sake of being cordial.

I said the “b-but Ten Hag” stance is akin to it - not that it is the same, for clarification - because it is anchored in fear of the unknown and projection/assumption. If this is how you guys live your life, fair enough. Reads as extremely paralysing to me.

I didn't say we should stick with a bust because we've sacked managers previously.

What on earth are you talking about? I'm worried you've taken a conclusion I never implied and wound yourself up about it.

Why do you put a stammer in the quote? Are you OK?

All we said is, take it with a pinch of salt. It's quiet optimism, nothing else.

 

[UpWithRivers]

Eh? Did you watch the match? They spent the vast majority of it in a very compact, defensive shape. And almost all their goals were scored on the break. City had 73% possession!

And when we come up against City should we have a go at them? How do you think that will pan out. His genius is doing what he needs to win. If thats park the bus then park the bus. Once managers get it into their head that they need to play the United way we are fkd. Maybe I misread his comments. I still have ETH shell shock. When he said he cant play the Ajax way that was the most fkd up thing I ever heard a manager say. I just dont want him to think he needs to be a totally different manager. Yes adapt. Yes tweak things. But his foundations should remain

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Have watched a few videos on him today and watched Sporting last night... I am ready to be hurt again. I am very much on the Amorin train. My gaffer.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

And when we come up against City should we have a go at them? How do you think that will pan out. His genius is doing what he needs to win. If thats park the bus then park the bus. Once managers get it into their head that they need to play the United way we are fkd. Maybe I misread his comments. I still have ETH shell shock. When he said he cant play the Ajax way that was the most fkd up thing I ever heard a manager say. I just dont want him to think he needs to be a totally different manager. Yes adapt. Yes tweak things. But his foundations should remain

Ok, sorry. I completely misunderstood your point. You got the impression he WON’T play defensively at United. That’s not my impression. I think he’s simply saying he’ll have to be adaptable. And won’t be able to copy and paste exactly what worked at Sporting onto a whole new squad of players. Which makes perfect sense to me.

 

[RuudTom83]

What a result in his final home game. Must of been bittersweet for the fans watching.

I hope United don't ruin him haha.

 

[Robbie Boy]

Ok, sorry. I completely misunderstood your point. You got the impression he WON’T play defensively at United. That’s not my impression. I think he’s simply saying he’ll have to be adaptable. And won’t be able to copy and paste exactly what worked at Sporting onto a whole new squad of players. Which makes perfect sense to me.

It seemed pretty clear that's exactly what he meant.

 

[roonster09]

Will be very interesting to see how a manager who almost always (or always) plays 3 atb formation. Hopefully we see some exciting changes with players position to bring best out of the squad.

I'm assuming Mount will play big role, with his work rate and his ability to play as attacking mid.

 

[Smashin]

Music to my ears. Central philosophy but pragmatically applied for results. This was what ETH failed at. He refused to compromise or adapt to his team’s form/availability in seasons 2 and 3.

I have a question: how does he deal with bad elements in a group? I have read he has managed to motivate even the most toxic players at Sporting when he arrived. But I want to know how he approaches a team with a losing mentality and what he does when the team doesn’t apply his tactics. Can you shed some light on this please?

He has a bit of Mourinho to him, in a way that what he says and does outside (press, etc) is quite different from inside with the players, but at the same time he sounds very honest and open which is a very rare quality.
He does not have however that "burn everything into the ground", he keeps composure and i don't think i ever recall him blaming anyone else apart from him for something less positive.

He's very young so he understands the different mentalities from players nowadays, even if he hates social media, spotlights on him and all that.

The only player i recall having issues with him in these years was Slimani, when he came back he was already a Sporting "hero" i can imagine the clash wasnt easy. It is rumored Slimani did not have the best attitude and lacked professionalism in training and kept going to social media whining about it. Amorim gave him opportunities to improve but nothing changed. He never openly admitted or said what happened in training, since he didnt want to tarnish Slimani's past with Sporting and how the fans viewed the player. Slimani ended up being removed from the first team and a couple months later terminated contract. All this in less than a full year.

He puts the squad above anyone and the players love him and will give all their 100%. He's against special treatments or prima donnas, they are all the same.
Even former player show that bond, for example Matheus Nunes often visits the academy and even Ugarte not that long ago posted on social media with a Sporting shirt.

In our 3rd season we ended up being 4th in the league and he said, some players aswell, that the 1st place of the 4th season started in the locker room talk they had in the end of the awful season. He got them rallied up and promising each other they had to win the next.

 

[TsuWave]

I didn't say we should stick with a bust because we've sacked managers previously.

What on earth are you talking about? I'm worried you've taken a conclusion I never implied and wound yourself up about it.

Why do you put a stammer in the quote? Are you OK?

All we said is, take it with a pinch of salt. It's quiet optimism, nothing else.

Conversations with you are unnecessarily laborious because you read, but always seem to struggle to comprehend even when "dummy disclaimers" are added to posts. Let's try this again with highlighted text, it might help.

"Ten Hag being a bust won’t prevent me from being excited about Amorim. Sometimes, some guys are just busts. It doesn't affect me recognising the good work someone else has done/is doing" <- this was my response to you

"Not saying this necessarily of you guys, but I find the whole "b-but Ten Hag also" reasoning akin to the comically bad "we sacked managers before" stance some posters had and were using to justify sticking with the aforementioned bust." <- see the red bold letters at the start of the second paragraph? It explicitly says that part of the post was not about you. It is me elaborating on my views on reasoning/logic I deem of a specific flawed nature, and I specified that out of those the "we sacked managers before" stance is particularly comical. For the love of anything that's good in this world, I hope you understand what I'm saying now.

You then replied with:

Its not comical. It's being cautious.

Were all optimistic but taking those tweets with a pinch of salt isn't exactly unreasonable.

To which I clarified that in the previous post, I only referred to "we sacked managers before" stance as comical. Not your "cautious" position on Amorim or w/e. I added the stammer when addressing that "but Ten Hag also" stance to illustrate that it amounts to little but babble/waffle to me. I don't mean this in a combative nor hostile manner, but we just have fundamentally different views on football and support, and that was established during the previous manager's tenure. I'm not looking to convince/sway you any kind of way. You're cautious because you saw similar tweets about Ten Hag, fair. Ten Hag being proven to be a bum won't deter me from being excited about the good work Amorim has done/is doing - I think that's fair also.

 

[Todd]

Will be very interesting to see how a manager who almost always (or always) plays 3 atb formation. Hopefully we see some exciting changes with players position to bring best out of the squad.

I'm assuming Mount will play big role, with his work rate and his ability to play as attacking mid.

At this point, what makes you even believe that Mount will be fit and available for more than like 20% of the time Amorim is in charge here?

 

[DJ_21]

Will be very interesting to see how a manager who almost always (or always) plays 3 atb formation. Hopefully we see some exciting changes with players position to bring best out of the squad.

I'm assuming Mount will play big role, with his work rate and his ability to play as attacking mid.

I can see dalot improving a lot if he’s chosen to play wing back. Although Amorim seems to like attacking players playing in them positions… maybe garnacho/amad.

 

[macheda14]

I can see dalot improving a lot if he’s chosen to play wing back. Although Amorim seems to like attacking players playing in them positions… maybe garnacho/amad.

One attacking and one more defensive one who tucks in a bit is what I can see for now. On current form Mazraoui is ahead of Dalot as the more defensive one.

 

[roonster09]

At this point, what makes you even believe that Mount will be fit and available for more than like 20% of the time Amorim is in charge here?

Hopium more than any scientifically backed reason.

I can see dalot improving a lot if he’s chosen to play wing back. Although Amorim seems to like attacking players playing in them positions… maybe garnacho/amad.

Yeah, Dalot makes superb runs for a FB, he might go to next level as wingback. Our FBs should improve their productivity for sure.

 

[Ish]

He wont change his philosophy but it's a mix of pragmatism, reality and desire to win.
In his 4 years at Sporting his teams, despite the same formation way of playing changed alot and evolved with better players (getting CB's better with the ball, wingers that could actually att/defend, etc...).
On his 1st season where we won the Championship we did not play head to head with Porto/Benfica (since they had better squads), he played more cautiously and got the results.
2nd into the 3rd we played more attacking football in those games and ironically we had worse results ( Amorim even admitted so in a press conference later on).
And for the past year and a half, at least internally, we just want the ball and score. I kinda lost track but we are at the 50th something game in a row always scoring.

So yea he likes attacking football but adapts to the players he has.

Yeah agreed. I think last time you met city in the UCL (2022?) as well, you lost 5-0 at home? Amorim clearly stated his learnt/grown from those days and I’m sure that pragmatism also influenced his tactics yesterday.

 

[Acquire Me]

Better man than me

I got a serious man crush on this beautiful human being.

 

[DJ Jeff]

I have to say well done INEOS on getting him, when Tuchel was gone and the writing was on the wall for ETH I was really worried about who we'd end up with as interim and writing off yet another season. To get a manager of this quality mid season with the team in freefall is a great coup.

 

[The Red Thinker]

He has a bit of Mourinho to him, in a way that what he says and does outside (press, etc) is quite different from inside with the players, but at the same time he sounds very honest and open which is a very rare quality.
He does not have however that "burn everything into the ground", he keeps composure and i don't think i ever recall him blaming anyone else apart from him for something less positive.

He's very young so he understands the different mentalities from players nowadays, even if he hates social media, spotlights on him and all that.

The only player i recall having issues with him in these years was Slimani, when he came back he was already a Sporting "hero" i can imagine the clash wasnt easy. It is rumored Slimani did not have the best attitude and lacked professionalism in training and kept going to social media whining about it. Amorim gave him opportunities to improve but nothing changed. He never openly admitted or said what happened in training, since he didnt want to tarnish Slimani's past with Sporting and how the fans viewed the player. Slimani ended up being removed from the first team and a couple months later terminated contract. All this in less than a full year.

He puts the squad above anyone and the players love him and will give all their 100%. He's against special treatments or prima donnas, they are all the same.
Even former player show that bond, for example Matheus Nunes often visits the academy and even Ugarte not that long ago posted on social media with a Sporting shirt.

In our 3rd season we ended up being 4th in the league and he said, some players aswell, that the 1st place of the 4th season started in the locker room talk they had in the end of the awful season. He got them rallied up and promising each other they had to win the next.

That is awesome. Firm without being seen as unjust. Soft strength is the necessity for today’s younger generation of players.

 

[Grande]

Better man than me

Wow. Reforming Cotterill! That’s beautiful.

 

[Gonçalo Motta]

Even if this is not the proper quote. He said we shouldn't be as defensive. This is a very worrying. He just smashed City playing that way and Sporting have a sht load of goals this season. Why change it? ETH's biggest fk up was throwing his whole philosophy out the window and trying to play 'transition' football.
PLease for the love of all things dont change your philosophy. Yes tweak it to cope with the Premier league. Its very different. But not because you want to accomodate Rashford or to play the 'United Way' Or any other nonsense.

First, Sporting normally doesn't play like this. They always play high-pressure and high-intensity games usually with 60% to 70% of ball possession.
Amorim yesterday considered that in this game, it was better for Sporting to absorb the pressure from City and counterattack / build up from the back.
Considering the outcome of the match, it was the right call (even if there was luck involved).

What he said yesterday is that in the long term, he doesn't want to play in United like Sporting played yesterday against City because a team like United should impose their own game instead of playing defensively to try to get a result.

 

[DJ_21]

Where have I seen this quote ?
But he's actually right.

Isn’t this exactly what ETH said when he joined. Cant play the way his Ajax team did. A managers style is the reason teams go after them. I hope he doesn’t change his preferred style.

 

[Gonçalo Motta]

Isn’t this exactly what ETH said when he joined. Cant play the way his Ajax team did. A managers style is the reason teams go after them. I hope he doesn’t change his preferred style.

Look at the current United squad and how they play and you will get to the same conclusion that they can't play as Sporting is playing right now. It doesn't mean he isn't going to work towards a similar tactical structure with the players available plus whoever they buy in January / summer window.

 

[Licha-Vidic]

People also need to know, a back 3 always frustrates Pep.
From Inter to Sporting Now.

It does seem, that back 3 football is what will rule the world in the coming years, (read the young manager coming up)

We just need to move on few players and get genuine players who can run with the ball and know how to play under pressure

 

[romufc]

All spot on. I was/am guilty of it myself. Sometimes too much "empathy" with managers/people losing their jobs etc etc.

Before the new structure, I'd say it was even more difficult, and sometimes our excuses were actually valid. The manager had very little support elsewhere in the organisation - outside of "being backed", which they all were to reasonable levels.

Now hopefully the structure can make us reap the rewards. I'm all aboard the Amorim train and I'm sure we'll see the progress in a few months.

I agree with you, the structure didn't help, people will say oh no it has nothing to do with coaching, but it does and I can explain.

Under the previous regime, we overpaid for 80% of players bought, Maguire, Sancho, Hojlund, Casemiro, Pogba, Fred or overpaid them in Alexis. What people / fans dont realise is the pressure this brings, then we are expecting w.c performances in a badly coached team. What happens? player has a few bad games, criticism comes, from fans first then media.. Now you have a squad of players who are thinking.. I need to prove myself and forget about the team goal.

Then add to that paying the wages, meaning the players know, they have greater power, so when they dont like what the manager does, leaks, stories about training etc..

We have seen over the last few months, the culture changing, it feels as if now its not about transfer fees. We are not talking about how much De Ligt cost, how much Mazroui cost, how much Yoro costs. De Ligt has settled in under the radar, if we had paid £80m for Branthwaite and conceding chances, could you imagine the uproar now?

it is quite clear, Amorim has the keys and the power to say.. x player doesn't fit. We have competent people who understand football to realise, yes I see what the coach is saying about said player. Instead of previously, "But x player brings in y commercial value"

 

[romufc]

Isn’t this exactly what ETH said when he joined. Cant play the way his Ajax team did. A managers style is the reason teams go after them. I hope he doesn’t change his preferred style.

If you see what he said, he said we cant play like that at United meaning cant be defensive. It is actually opposite of Ten Hag. Ten Hag said he cant play Ajax way but never said what way he can play, talked abour being the best transition side, which in the old days was called counter attacking football.

Ruben is indirectly saying at United they expect more control.

 

[Xaviboy]

I'd be disappointed if he did come in and still has us playing 4 at the back.

I want to see a change and new ideas.

We don't score enough goals playing 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3

 

[bosnian_red]

Isn’t this exactly what ETH said when he joined. Cant play the way his Ajax team did. A managers style is the reason teams go after them. I hope he doesn’t change his preferred style.

There's nothing wrong with him or Ten Hag saying that. Liverpool didn't play like Dortmund, City don't play like Barca did. Every manager has to adapt and coach the players they have. Hell even the same coach at the same club has to adapt year to year to the new players he has and to how the league evolves/others adapt to your system. That's entirely normal. Ten hag didn't adapt successfully, that's where he went wrong. It wasn't because he didn't try to copy his Ajax team (which wouldn't have worked here anyway).

 

[VP89]

Conversations with you are unnecessarily laborious because you read, but always seem to struggle to comprehend even when "dummy disclaimers" are added to posts. Let's try this again with highlighted text, it might help.

"Ten Hag being a bust won’t prevent me from being excited about Amorim. Sometimes, some guys are just busts. It doesn't affect me recognising the good work someone else has done/is doing" <- this was my response to you

"Not saying this necessarily of you guys, but I find the whole "b-but Ten Hag also" reasoning akin to the comically bad "we sacked managers before" stance some posters had and were using to justify sticking with the aforementioned bust." <- see the red bold letters at the start of the second paragraph? It explicitly says that part of the post was not about you. It is me elaborating on my views on reasoning/logic I deem of a specific flawed nature, and I specified that out of those the "we sacked managers before" stance is particularly comical. For the love of anything that's good in this world, I hope you understand what I'm saying now.

You then replied with:



To which I clarified that in the previous post, I only referred to "we sacked managers before" stance as comical. Not your "cautious" position on Amorim or w/e. I added the stammer when addressing that "but Ten Hag also" stance to illustrate that it amounts to little but babble/waffle to me. I don't mean this in a combative nor hostile manner, but we just have fundamentally different views on football and support, and that was established during the previous manager's tenure. I'm not looking to convince/sway you any kind of way. You're cautious because you saw similar tweets about Ten Hag, fair. Ten Hag being proven to be a bum won't deter me from being excited about the good work Amorim has done/is doing - I think that's fair also.

I have no idea why you're aggressively reposting the conversation. I can read. I just told you we are taking it with a pinch of salt. There's nothing comical about cautious optimism.

If you found the other premise comical that's great but it literally has feck all to do with what we were posting.

 

[Robbie Boy]

Isn’t this exactly what ETH said when he joined. Cant play the way his Ajax team did. A managers style is the reason teams go after them. I hope he doesn’t change his preferred style.

No one would have cared if we didn't play like Ajax, had ETH got us playing nice football and found a winning formula. The problem was that he said it when we were playing absolutely atrocious stuff, which made it much worse.

Amorim basically said that Sporting were lucky last night, and that wouldn't be an ideal setup for us (City completely dominated possession). It was a reasonable response to the question.