Ruben Amorim says it was tough to leave Sporting CP midway through the season but admitted the opportunity to become Manchester United head coach was one he could not pass up.

The 39-year-old will take charge of his first Red Devils match on Sunday afternoon after replacing Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford dugout, with a trip to Ipswich Town his maiden test in his new role.

Amorim saw out a final batch of Sporting matches before leaving to take over at United during the November international break.

Speaking to Gary Neville for Sky Sports, the former Portugal international revealed the thought process behind leaving his homeland for his first crack at life in the Premier League.

He said: "It was really hard but I had to do it. I already had conversations with clubs so it was quite normal. But what I felt at the time was this is my place. I think it was the right club in the right moment for me.

"It was very tough to leave Sporting because in the middle of the season, you can say everything, it's Manchester United, it's everything, it's the club that I want, but you are leaving your guys in the middle of the season. So it was really hard, but I had to do it.

"I was so happy of course, you can see it in every interaction that I have, but I also ffelt that in the first moment it was a bit overwhelming, but after five minutes you start thinking about the club, the team, the players, how to play, so it was quite fun."

Amorim has plenty of work to get stuck into as United bid to turn their season around. They are 13th in the Premier League table ahead of the weekend and have only won one of their four Europa League games so far. Amorim will face the media for the first time as United head coach on Friday afternoon.

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