United still expect Sporting success under Amorim, says Fernandes

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has said that the club still expect that head coach Ruben Amorim will recreate the success he achieved in Portugal at Sporting.

Amorim joined Manchester United in November, leaving Sporting after four and a half years in charge and having won two league titles.

The 40-year-old took charge 231 matches in all competitions at Sporting and had a 71% win percentage. The league title he won with them in 2021 was their first in 19 years, while he won the Primeira Liga again in 2023-24.

At United, meanwhile, he has won just 11 matches out of 26 since joining, but Fernandes has not given up faith on him.

"I knew the way Sporting was playing, I knew the fans were excited and the players were very happy with him [Amorim] there," Fernandes said of Amorim while speaking to CBS Sports.

"I think we all saw in the last game that he had there [at Sporting] how much togetherness there was with the players and staff during that time.

"Me and my teammates and the technical staff, including the manager, want to recreate that. To recreate that obviously we need trophies, too."

United finished eighth in the Premier League last season, which was their worst league position since finishing 13th in 1989-90. Despite being on course for a worse finish this season, co-owner Jim Ratcliffe has said that Amorim will remain at the club for "a long time".

Fernandes, meanwhile, understands how well thought of Amorim is in their shared home country and, while he suggested that they did not have a special relationship, their pair have an understanding after the latter said United "need more Brunos".

"I wouldn't say we're quite close," said Fernandes. "We don't speak that much to be honest. He is a manager that is very, very quiet...Obviously being the captain most of the things he wants to pass to the team many times come to me but many other times doesn't even come from him but from his staff.

"Obviously, we have a good relationship but I wouldn't say that is different than any other player. I knew the things that he was doing at Sporting but it wasn't someone I knew personally."