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The 39-year-old takes charge for the first time in Sunday’s Premier League trip to promoted Ipswich having been confirmed as Erik ten Hag’s successor at the beginning of November. Amorim has made a positive impression since starting work at the United in an international fortnight that ended with an impressive first appearance in front of the media. The Portuguese was gregarious, engaging and smiley throughout Friday’s press conference but that warmth comes with a ruthlessness edge if players do not adhere to his approach. “You can be the same person,” head coach Amorim said. “Be a positive person that can understand this is one place to be, then there is the dressing room, there are some places to have fun, there are some places to work hard. “So, I can be ruthless when I have to be. If you think as a team, I will be the nicest guy you have ever seen. If there is someone just thinking about himself, I will be a different person. “I’m not that type of guy that wants to show that he is the boss. “They will feel it in the small details, that I can be the smiling one but then when we have a job to do I will be a different person, and they understand that.” ‘The Smiling One’ follows ‘the Special One’ as United’s second Portuguese manager, with Jose Mourinho one of five managers to try and fail to reach the heights scaled by Sir Alex Ferguson. The Scot retired as a Premier League champion in 2013 and the Red Devils have failed to launch a sustained title bid since adding that 20th top-flight crown. Asked about whether he will lean on Ferguson to understand the history of United and whether he has met him, Amorim said: “No, not yet. I didn’t have that opportunity. “It’s hard to copy someone, so I have to be me. Of course I’m not the best person in here to show the history of Manchester United. “It should be the club first and also me because I’m always paying attention on those details and try to focus our players in the history of the club, not the recent history. “You have to be very demanding. This is a club that needs to win, has to win, so we have to show that to our players but it’s a different time. “I cannot be the same guy that Sir Alex Ferguson was. It’s a different time. “I have to have a different approach, but I can also be demanding with a different approach, so that is my focus.” Like Ferguson in 1986, Amorim starts life at United in the November of a season that started with a paltry points tally. The 39-year-old acknowledges the timing makes “it’s so much harder” for him to imprint his style at a club whose youth foundations look in safe hands. “It’s the project of Manchester United,” Amorim said. “Nowadays, you need young guys, guys from the academy for everything. “To bring that history of the club because they feel the club in a different way. “And also because you have all these rules with financial fair play, when a player from our academy is so much different to the players that we bought and then we sell. “So, everything is connected. I will try to help all the players, especially the young ones.” Amorim’s first match will be a fascinating watch for onlookers, who have kept a particularly close eye on his work during his farewell to Sporting Lisbon. The Portuguese managed three final matches after being confirmed as United head coach, including a 4-1 Champions League win against Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side have dominated English football in recent years and the City boss this week signed a new deal until 2027. “I think it’s a problem for everybody here, but we have so much to do, we cannot focus on anyone,” Amorim said. “We just have to focus on our club, improve our club and not focus on the other clubs, so let’s focus on Manchester United. “It’s amazing (the test) – if you can beat that team it’s a good sign but, like I said, we are focused on Manchester United.”Juan Soto contract details: Mets star gets luxury suite, personal security
TALKING TRASH: LUCKY ENERGY DEBUTED AT ART BASELWales head coach Warren Gatland says he remains "motivated" to lead the team despite a devastating 12th consecutive Test match loss. The dismal 45-12 defeat against South Africa in Cardiff consigned the Welsh side to their first calendar year without victory since 1937. With a formidable Six Nations challenge looming, particularly with an opener against France in Paris on January 31, serious questions hover over Gatland's future after losing 18 out of 24 Tests during his second tenure. Gatland expressed his willingness to discuss his position with the "powers that be", suggesting critical talks will be held over "the next few days". Regardless of the turmoil, Gatland finds solace in Wales’ spirited display: "Look, I am motivated to want to be here." He plans to consult those at the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and said: "We will just wait and see what happens in the next couple of days. "I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t say the last few weeks haven’t been challenging and tough. We’ve questioned ourselves after each game, what could we have done better, what could I have done better in the week with preparation." The boss added: "That is no different to when you are winning, too. You will still ask yourself the same questions. It is seeing what happens over the next few days, go and chat with the powers that be and also talk to family, too. "Like I said, the last couple of weeks have been challenging in terms of the amount of negativity. You are only human, and that has a little bit of an impact on you. "You have got to assess what has happened in the last few weeks and talk to the right people. For a long time, I think there have been issues within the game. The success we’ve had in the past has probably papered over some of those cracks. "We have talked about the dam bursting, and it has. It’s going to take a little time to fix it and get back on track." However, he sees a silver lining in the team's potential: "What I saw today from this group of young men and players, it gave me a lot of positive hope that there is an opportunity for us to improve and get better for the Six Nations in terms of the learnings from this campaign." The match report detailed the Springboks' dominant performance, with seven tries scored by Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Aphelele Fassi, Elrigh Louw, Jordan Hendrikse and Gerhard Steenekamp, while Hendrikse also contributed five conversions. Despite the defeat, Wales managed to score through wing Rio Dyer and flanker James Botham, with Ben Thomas adding a conversion. However, the damage was done early on as South Africa secured three tries in the opening quarter, leaving Wales to contemplate a third autumn loss after previous defeats by Fiji and Australia. Gatland reflected: "It was a tough game. A really tough game. But I cannot question how hard our players tried out there – I thought they gave absolutely everything. "When you play the world champions, you know how clinical they are, how effective they are, the power they can bring off the bench with the 6-2 split. "For us, it’s going away from this campaign with a few players – not everyone – aware there is some conditioning work to do so they are in better shape for the next campaign."