One on One | Amorim on how Man Utd job has "changed his life"

0:00I have zero fear of losing any job. My biggest fear is not winning games. I enjoy to be here. There's not another club like this who gives you the strength to fight for the opportunity. But I live day by day and I know that this change so fast. I need to fight every day to maintain my job and that is a good thing because that is life. If life is always good or always bad, it's not life. Life is like this and I really enjoy my life here. Welcome back to the one-on-one podcast from Sky Sports, the show that brings you exclusive chats with some of the biggest names in world football. I'm Joe Tomlinson and alongside me, as ever, is Jules.

0:44We got a little taste there in the opening sequence of your chat with Manchester United's head coach, Ruben Amorim. The full interview is coming up. And I have to say, Jules, as a Manchester United fan, my word, is he brilliant to listen to. He's just as good as that United shirt in the background. I know people can't see that, but from looking at you on this screen, It's there in all its glory. And he was in a great mood, just like you yourself, when I went to see him last week. So that was after United had beaten Liverpool, but before the win against Brighton as well, which made it three wins in a row.

1:18And as you'll hear, we discussed Harry Maguire and how he has dealt with all the criticism that he sometimes received. And often that criticism and stick has gone beyond football, as we know about. We talk about Marcus Rashford, because on the day when I chatted to Ruben, Marcus had spoken about his desire to stay at Barcelona beyond his loan spell. And we also spoke about Amaran's future at Old Trafford. In fact, we talked about so many different things. The school run even came into it. We talk about the highs and the lows of being the boss. But also, we started with that memorable win, which you will never, ever let me forget about, at Liverpool at Anfield.

1:56The first by a United manager since Louis van Gaal. It was so long ago. so you can enjoy your celebrations. And here is my one-on-one with Ruben Amarin.

2:11United have landed one on Liverpool in Liverpool. United win at Anfield for the first time in nigh on a decade. And they are bouncing off each other. When you win, it doesn't matter. Nowadays, it doesn't matter the opponent. I know how happy the fans are. But for us, just to win the game helped us during the week. But then after the first day, that was a good feeling. No one was being different or complacent during training. And that was a good sign. And we are moving for the next one because we know that football is just about the last game. And that is the most important thing.

3:00For Maguire! A massive leap, a massive moment!

3:09United snatched back the lead at Anfield! Can I ask you about Harry Maguire? Because he's a player who's shown a lot of commitment to this club, to this team. He's been on the end of stick, he's been on the end of criticism, he's been on the end of abuse, sometimes beyond football. how happy were you for him that he had his moment he deserved that moment at Anfield last week he had some moments you remember the game against Lyon the way he scored the goal if there is a guy that deserves to score this kind of goals it's him what I think he needs to think is that that is in the past he has so much to live and that is the important thing and then I think he's a good example for all our players that you can

4:00come back from any situation because Harry proved that and for that we need to be a family to help every player because in our club the attention the pressure is really high and we need to help each other to overcome these kind of moments and Harry is a very good example But I will say to Harry, the same that I said to them, in five years, in ten years, when they finish their careers, nobody is going to remember them. Nobody is going to talk about them every day. So enjoy life. Enjoy every moment, like the goal against Liverpool. That is the most important thing. And let's help each other to overcome this moment.

4:44They'll remember that goal against Liverpool, though. Yeah, of course. Manchester United fans will remember that goal. Sometimes we are so focused on social media and what people say that in many years nobody is going to care about you. So let's do what Harry did. He fought, he had some bad moments, but he's here helping our team, scoring important goals. And then the fans are helping him to return to his level because he's a very good player. You'd have noticed the breaking news. Barcelona have announced they have signed Marcus Rashford on loan. Yes, Barca and Manchester United reached an agreement for the player until 30th of June, 2026.

5:29Marcus Rashford seems happy to stay at Barcelona, has spoken of his desire to stay beyond his loan spell. Are you happy that he's found a place where he's happy and enjoying himself again and continuing to thrive? I'm happy for all the players that they deserve to be happy. Sometimes you are in the place that is not for you, but then you go to other places and you are happier. That is natural. I feel the same with Rasmus. I feel the same with a lot of players, with Anthony, that he found out his place also. So I'm happy with them. I don't have any personal problem with anyone here. I was a footballer.

6:12I know how they suffer. I know how they think. So I'm really happy for all of them to find the right spot for them to be happy. And are you happy with you? Because it's nearly a year since you walked through these doors and you faced quite a lot of adversity, but you've come through it. Yeah, I think, but I had a lot of support and you can start with the board, the players. Because of course, it's a fight every day in our club and you want to change things. There is a lot to do, but I grew up a lot. I enjoy to be here. I think there's not another club like this, so it gives you the strength to fight for the opportunity.

6:56But I live day by day and I know that this change so fast. So I need to fight every day to maintain my job. And that is a good thing because that is life. If life is always good or always bad, it's not life. Life is like this, and I really enjoy my life here. One of the things you said in one of the many interviews you did when you first arrived was that this job wouldn't change you, but it would change your life. In what way has it changed your life, if it has, in these 12 months so far? I think it changed a little bit my life. The exposure that I have is completely different. My habits are more or less the same.

7:35I live a simple life. But this changed my life. And again, when I'm in my dressing room at Old Trafford, I see 23 pictures of managers. I know how important it is my job, the honor that I have. And I want to succeed. I don't want to leave this club without winning. And that is so massive for me. So this is not going to change who I am. that is for sure, because I'm really clear on that, but it changed my life. My life is completely different now, as you suspect, to be a manager of Manchester United. In a good way, has it changed? In a good way, in some things that are a bad way, but with all the things that happen in the world, I'm privileged.

8:25So I will not say change in a bad way, all the attention, you don't feel all the time And that freedom that I had in the past. But it's all good things. I have a very good life. The fans here, no matter what happens, they support me. I can live my life quite well here. And I love your country. That is a thing that I find out during this year. So it changed my life, most of the things, for the best. What do you like about it? I think you leave the fans here because you centre everything about the results and about your life as a manager. But here it's different. I feel the support no matter what happened.

9:12I live in one spot because some of the big players live there. Nobody cares about me and that is a blast. No one ever stops you when they see you? Really? Or you're in disguise? I just point to the other guys like Bruno is always there in the schools, all these guys, guys from other clubs. So I point to them, they go to the guys. So I really enjoy the way people face the competition here. I know that the pressure and everything you read in Portugal is like, he's crazy about here. No, social media is crazy everywhere. Media, it's normal. You need to sell, you need to create headlines. But if you live your life here, it's completely different and you can enjoy life.

9:57You guys pay a lot of attention to the families, the way you live, your day by day. So I feel quite comfortable here. Has there been any at any stage where you felt uncomfortable? And I say that because it does seem to feel like October has been a long month for you. When you go from the start and what we, the media, were saying and pundits and ex-players to where you find yourself now and what Sir Jim had said also in the international break. First of all, I know that everything changed. Like you said, in one month, everything changed. Of course, that interview of the owner helped to calm down the things.

10:37But again, I have zero fear of losing any job. That will not change my life now in the place that I am. is not going to change that. My biggest fear is not winning games. That is the feeling of suffering because I suffer when I don't lose games. So that is the only thing that I'm focused on, not what people think. Of course, I want everyone to love my football and saying that I'm the best manager in the world, but that is not going to happen no matter what happens. I just want to win games. If I win games, I'll be happy. But to be the best football manager in the world and certainly to be one of the best in this rebuild that you're doing here at Manchester United.

11:21People talk about stages and how long each stage takes. Is that how you're going about this job? And if so, what stage are you at? It's hard to say. I don't know how long it's going to take. What I can say is that I'm going to do what is the best for the club. and that is going to be always my option I will not do nothing to save myself and not think about what is best for the club and I think I prove a little bit of that during one year and that is something that I can promise to any fan of Manchester United this club is in the first place it doesn't matter my job or anyone's job the most important thing is to do everything that is going to help the Manchester United to return to the trophies.

12:12And when I say trophies, he's winning Premier League, he's winning Champions League. I will try to be one piece that helps the club to return to that place. If I'm going to be here in the final stage, I don't know. That is not my concern, but I'm going to do everything to help the club to return to that place. Ruben, it's been a pleasure. Thank you for your time. Thank you very much. Thank you. Jules, I have to say, every time we speak to Ruben, one of us anyway, it always feels like you get a lot out of him, don't you? Yeah, he's a really good person to talk to, have that conversation with. It doesn't actually feel like an interview.

12:46I don't know what you find when you speak to him. He's so relaxed. And I guess you have to be philosophical when you're that Manchester United manager. You need to have all those different qualities. And he seems to be very relaxed about his future, just as relaxed as the sofa we were sitting on. He said he's got zero fear of losing his job. Now, he has said that before because obviously that's not up to him. But what he can control is how to win football matches and the mood around the new training centre with the new first team training site. And that's his focus. It's been very up and down for him since his arrival.

13:22It was only 11 months ago. And yet I did believe him when he said he's just comfortable. He just wants to enjoy the ride, see where he gets it. There are no guarantees he is going to be there at the end of his contract. There are no guarantees, he says, that he will be there if Manchester United win the Premier League or the Champions League, which he talks about. But he wants to be there and he's just going to enjoy it. So you're a United fan, three wins on the bounce, going into a game against Nottingham Forest now at the City ground, which I think is going to be a lot harder now because of the change of manager there.

13:54Do you think the team have turned a corner? It's a mini corner. It's a mini corner. But it's nice to be positive for once. It's nice to see Ruben with a smile on his face, wearing sunglasses to training. I'm a little bit excited at the moment. And Bermot and Kunja have got me off my seat. I think they've made a real difference. But he's the type of manager, Ruben, you want to succeed. I really, really want him to do well. I'm so desperate for him to become a winner at Manchester United. Fingers crossed he can do that. And I have to say, whenever I've spoken to him, like you said there, Jules, he is just such an interesting listen.

14:30I mean, I went to speak to him earlier in the season for Saturday Social. And one of the first things he told me was that Sir Alex Ferguson had told him off for being too honest in press conferences. But I don't think he should ever change that personally. No. And one of the things I put to him, as you heard in that conversation, was the fact that when he first walked through those doors, he said the job wouldn't change him, but it would change his life. But I think that's just him. I think that's just his character. I really wanted to pick up on that as well with when he told you about Sir Alex telling him off for being too honest in his press conferences and whether those conversations had continued beyond when you last spoke to him in the run of form that they were in before October.

15:10because as I spoke to him, it's been quite an October for him when you think of where Manchester United were and all those Zoomers at the start of the month to where Manchester United are now and the smiles back on all those Manchester United fans because they are loyal fans and they always seem to support him as well. And he does seem to have that connections with him despite the highs and lows of his job, which he just puts down to life. So why should he hide from those lows? because he just seems to speak his mind, be his person, not try to be anybody else. And there's no doubting the job has changed his life.

15:47Whether that is for the better, though, I guess time will tell. But you just want him. I feel in his company, you just want him to succeed in those moments that you have with him because he just comes across as a real, genuine, nice person. Love that, Jules. That is it, though, for this week's one-on-one. And if you want to watch Jules' chat with Big Ruben, you can find it on the Sky Sports YouTube channel. Jules, I believe you're up again next week. Yeah, with another person who's quite big in terms of tall. England and Everton's number one, Jordan Pickford. So very much looking forward to chatting with him.

16:23And you'll be able to hear him on the pod next Wednesday. So if you don't already give this show a follow. And Joe, ballerly, back with a bang. Saw you on Monday night. Yeah. All the chaos. It doesn't stop for me. Monday nights back at the Copper Box. Absolute chaos, absolute carnage. So make sure you tune in to Sky Sports for a pretty wild ride. But we love chaos. Have a good week, Joe. We'll be the glory days again.

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