I coached Manchester United for Sir Alex Ferguson - Ruben Amorim can make them formidable again

Rene Meulensteen believes Ruben Amorim could be the coach to make Manchester United a force in the Premier League again.

Amorim, 39, has agreed in principle to become the club's new permanent head coach and could be in charge for the visit of Chelsea to Old Trafford this weekend. United have moved quickly, with Sporting confirming their interest and stating that it would cost £8.3 million (€10m) in compensation.

The club has now agreed to a deal with the Portuguese champions after talks this week. In anticipation of the appointment, Sir Alex Ferguson's former coach has given Amorim his backing.

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"Ruben Amorim has demonstrated a strong tactical acumen and an ability to develop young talent," Meulensteen told Betway, "which is crucial for a club like Man Utd. He has a clear vision of how he wants his team to play, as we have seen with Sporting Lisbon, emphasising a high-energy style and positional play.

"He is already brilliant at winning trophies, even though he is only 39. As he has shown at Sporting, he knows how to instil a winning mentality, which is vital for a club of United's stature.

Meulensteen added: "Amorim's ability to adapt tactically and his style of play and development are standout qualities. The way he plays, it is a free-scoring team; they score a lot and don't concede a lot.

"He has a knack for getting the best of his players, fostering a competitive spirit within the squad. He has succeeded in adapting to various situations in matches and changing things for the better, instilling confidence in his players, creating a cohesive unit, and challenging other top