The sting of defeat often brings clarity, a moment to reflect not just on what went wrong on the pitch, but also on the foundations that support us. For Rúben Amorim, the recent match where he observed Manchester United appearing "completely lost," according to BBC Sport, wasn't just about tactical errors; it was a stark reminder of the values instilled in him from a young age – values of resilience, unity, and unwavering belief.
“My father always said, ‘Rúben, a team is like a family,’” Amorim reflected, his voice softening as he recalled his childhood. “He wasn't a football coach, he was a teacher, but he understood the importance of everyone pulling in the same direction. He taught me that even the smallest role is crucial to the overall success.” He paused, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “He would have had a lot to say about that penalty shootout, though.”
The penalty shootout, a tense affair that saw Mbeumo ultimately seal the victory after Matheus Cunha's miss, highlighted the razor-thin margins between success and failure. Yet, for Amorim, it was more than just a game; it was a microcosm of the challenges faced by any team striving for greatness. “You see a player miss a penalty, and you can see the weight of the world on their shoulders,” he observed. “But that’s when the real character of the team shines through. Do they rally around him? Do they lift him up, or do they let him crumble?”
His thoughts drifted back to his own early days, not on the pitch, but in the classroom, where his mother, also a teacher, shaped his understanding of discipline and perseverance. “She was tough,” he admitted with a chuckle. “She didn't care if I was good at football; she cared if I did my homework. She instilled in me the importance of hard work and dedication, not just in sports, but in everything I do.”
That upbringing, he believes, has profoundly influenced his approach to coaching. He emphasizes building a strong team culture, one where players feel supported and empowered to take risks, even if those risks sometimes lead to mistakes. "I try to create an environment where players aren't afraid to fail," he explained. "Because it's in those moments of failure that we learn the most. It’s easy to celebrate the wins, but it's how you respond to the losses that truly defines you.”
The conversation shifted back to the recent match and the perceived struggles of Manchester United. “From the outside,” Amorim stated cautiously, “it appeared they lacked…cohesion. It’s not just about individual talent; it's about how those talents are woven together, how they support each other, how they respond to adversity.” He added, “My father would have said they weren’t playing like a family.”
He paused, taking a sip of water. “Ultimately, something has to change,” he reiterated, echoing his earlier sentiment reported by BBC Sport. “Whether it’s a tactical shift, a change in personnel, or simply a renewed focus on building a stronger team spirit, something needs to be done to reignite that spark.”
And perhaps, he mused, that change begins not on the training ground, but in the rediscovery of those fundamental values that underpin any successful endeavor – the values of family, hard work, and unwavering belief, values that were instilled in him long before he ever stepped onto a football pitch.