We saw it in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the last year as Manchester United manager. The job of managing one of the world’s biggest clubs post Ferguson, is not a rejuvenation process. For Ruben Amorim, it has taken only two months to realize he has taken some giant step “closer to the grave”.
The Portuguese turns 40 with a celebration of the best gift Man United players could give him. Tricky, but still victory in the Premier League, the first since mid-December. After the game, it was a relieved and joking Amorim who responded to how it feels with a birthday and victory.
“I’m not turning 40… I’m turning 50! After two months at Manchester United, I’m turning 50,” Amorim says with a smile. Before he adds that it is a privilege to be able to celebrate his birthday as United manager.
Although the Portuguese is joking, this is probably what the reflection tells him every morning in the bathroom after two months of English winter football, English journalists, Rashford chaos and the “worst ever” delivery as Man United manager.
The 51-year-old Solskjaer is back in the ring outside Old Trafford and is surely smiling at Amorim’s description.
