Diogo Dalot has expressed his excitement after Manchester United announced Portuguese compatriot Ruben Amorim as their new head coach. However, the Red Devils defender fired Amorim a warning as he prepares to become the club's sixth permanent manager in 11 years since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement.
The 39-year-old will start on November 11 after taking charge of his final three games as Sporting boss before the international break.
He has agreed a contract until June 2027, with the option of a further year, and is tasked with recovering a dismal start to the season that led to Erik ten Hag's sacking.
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Dalot was one of Ten Hag's most trusted players at Old Trafford, but he couldn't help but glorify United's new boss.
"He's obviously a fantastic coach [and has a] young mentality, but at the same time, he knows what he wants," Dalot told Sky Sports.
"[He'll be] very demanding. That's what I can expect. And I think that's a perfect match for a club like this. The standards are really high.
"He is a person that you can see has really high standards, and he stands by them. So I hope that it can be a really good match and that we can win together. That's what I wish the most."
"It's a perfect match for a club like this" ??????
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 1, 2024
Diogo Dalot on Ruben Amorim's appointment at Manchester United ?????? pic.twitter.com/5tzramn4zZ
Jose Mourinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Dalot's team-mate Bruno Fernandes are examples of characters who have taken England's top flight by storm.
The 25-year-old right-back hopes that Amorim can continue the trend, adding: "I think the Premier League really suits people from Portugal.
"We have this culture of always trying, constantly trying to prove ourselves, and trying to fight for a place because we come from a small country.
"It's been all over the years [where] Portuguese, not just managers, but players also come to the Premier League and England and are successful. So I really hope that it's one more case, and I'm really excited to start working with him."
But Dalot cautioned Amorim that while he has thrived at a European heavyweight in Sporting, the level of scrutiny he will face at United is on another scale.
"He comes from a big club in Portugal, but I always say that [joining United] almost quadruples the amount of exposure, the amount of intensity, the amount of pressure," Dalot explained.
"But in Sporting, he was more than able to deal with it, so I'm sure that he will be able to deal with that. And we are here.
"Obviously, we are going to be a team, players, staff, managers, board, directors, everything, we're going to be a team, so we have to work with each other. I'm sure we will help him in some way, and it will help us."
Amorim will take charge of United for the first time for the Premier League trip to Ipswich Town later this month.