NOV 24,(V7N)- Ruben Amorim, the 39-year-old Portuguese manager tasked with reviving Manchester United’s faltering fortunes, has dubbed himself "the smiling one," but made it clear he possesses the ruthless edge required for success at Old Trafford.

Amorim’s tenure begins Sunday with a Premier League clash against promoted Ipswich Town, a tricky away fixture for a United side currently languishing in 12th place, 13 points behind table-toppers Liverpool.

In his first pre-match press conference, Amorim highlighted his philosophy of maintaining a positive demeanor while commanding respect.

“You can be the same person,” said Amorim. “Be a positive person that understands this is one place to be, then there is the dressing room, there are some places to have fun, and some places to work hard.

“I can be ruthless when I have to be. If you think as a team, I will be the nicest guy you’ve ever seen. If there is someone just thinking about himself, I will be a different person.”

Amorim emphasized that his leadership style isn’t about overt displays of authority. Instead, he focuses on subtle, decisive actions:
“They will feel it in the small details. I can be the smiling one, but when we have a job to do, I will be a different person.”

Amorim acknowledged the difficulties of stepping in mid-season, noting the limited time to assess his players properly:
“It’s so much harder to come to the team in the middle of the season because you have to get to know the players during the games. It’s really hard, but we’ll try to find ways to cope with that.”

Amorim is United’s second Portuguese manager, following the enigmatic José Mourinho, who famously labeled himself "the Special One." While Amorim respects United’s storied history, he is determined to chart his own path:
“I have to be me. I cannot be the same guy that Sir Alex Ferguson was. It’s a different time.”

Amorim is yet to meet Ferguson, but the influence of the legendary manager’s legacy looms large over the club, which has struggled to replicate its success since Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.

While Manchester City’s dominance has shaped recent English football, Amorim insists his focus is firmly on United’s rebuilding process.
“We have so much to do, we cannot focus on anyone else. If you can beat that team, it’s a good sign, but we are focused on Manchester United.”

With United eager to end their decade-long Premier League title drought, Amorim faces immense pressure to succeed. The journey begins at Portman Road, where a victory against Ipswich could offer a glimpse of what’s to come under "the smiling one."

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