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If Ruben Amorim had gone straight into Manchester United off the back of Erik ten Hag's sacking, I would have given him different priorities on his to-do list than what he has now.

After Ruud van Nistelrooy's four games in charge, it is a different conversation with the players. Their confidence is already higher - you can see that in the performances - and that would have been something he would have looked at early on.

One of his first priorities now will be getting to know the players. When a manager first comes in, you can change who you are as a player a little bit in those first few weeks. You want to impress and players and managers are working each other out. But he will know the ones trying to pull the wool over his eyes and the players will know that with him. You must build those relationships early.

Amorim needs to identify the areas of development that these players need, individually and collectively. Have those conversations and find out how players are feeling given the pressure they have been under with results.

However, trying to understand players in a short space of time is difficult and he will be learning about them on the job.

The international break provides an added challenge, particularly with the style of play Amorim has.

For players, the training sessions at clubs during this time are a lot shorter. It is less tactical and more focused on individual stuff so Amorim will not be able to get a lot of his philosophy and ideas across to players.

Manchester United is a massive club and what this does is give the new boss time to see what the place is about.

He will have more time to do that coming in during an international break than he would have done if he came in with back-to-back games straight away.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

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Ruben Amorim says he does not "feel the weight" of being the new Manchester United head coach.

The 39-year-old began his new role on Monday and has been spending time at the training ground getting to know the club, staff and some players during the international break.

He picks up the reins after interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy's short spell came to an end, with the Dutchman bringing some much-needed wins during his four games.

With an impressive CV from his time managing in Portugal, there will be expectation on the former Sporting boss to bring success to Old Trafford.

"You watch on TV and you know that it's big and it's impressive - but when you are here, you can feel it and I think you feel the history," Amorim said in an interview with club media.

"I'm really, really proud to be a Manchester United coach, so it's amazing. It's a real honour to be here."

When told by the interviewer there is a "weight to the place but it does lift you up", the Portuguese added: "That's really funny because I feel very relaxed.

"Maybe because it’s not gameday. When we have a game I'm a different guy, but I really don't feel the weight.

"I'm really excited and I'm quite relaxed. I think I am where I am supposed to be. That's the feeling."

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What can Manchester United fans expect from their new head coach?

BBC World Service has dropped a special Sportsworld podcast to find out more about Ruben Amorim from those who know him best - from his childhood friends to his former colleagues and players.

So who is the former Braga and Sporting manager, what things make him tick, and what could the new era at Old Trafford look like?

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Ruud van Nistelrooy says Manchester United will "always have a special place in my heart" and has wished them "many more glory days at Old Trafford" after leaving the club.

The former striker had been in interim charge following the sacking of Erik ten Hag in October.

After new boss Ruben Amorim officially took over on Monday, it was confirmed Van Nistelrooy would be leaving his coaching role, having joined Ten Hag's backroom staff in the summer.

During his four matches in charge, the Dutchman oversaw three wins and one draw, including the side's first victory in the Champions League this season.

In a message posted on X, external, Van Nistelrooy said: "To everyone at Manchester United Football Club, in particular the backroom staff, the players and the fans, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your incredible efforts and support.

"It has been a privilege and honour to represent the club as a player, coach and manager, and I will always cherish the memories we have shared together.

"Manchester United will always have a special place in my heart, and I hope there are many more glory days at Old Trafford very soon - not only because I want the club to do well, but because you all deserve it!

"All the best and take care, Ruud."

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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A big moment of immaturity came from Alejandro Garnacho at Old Trafford last weekend. He scored a "banger" - as it is now officially named - but deigned it beneath him to celebrate, as some Manchester United fans have been questioning his input lately.

Clearly he feels he isn't being respected enough for his seven Premier League assists in the past three seasons - his primary job in that position.

Usually, when a young player demands respect, the best course of action is to get rid of the self-important starlet as soon as possible, or at least drop them as a reality check.

In this case, he is still very young and he just needs the skipper - well said Bruno Fernandes post-match - and the new manager to have a sensible word.

And by all means don't celebrate, Alejandro - as long as you continue to deliver more regularly.

A player should never forget that it does come across a bit self-obsessed if he can't share the joy with the fans, who have paid a lot of money to see him.

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Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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In top-flight football, teams have to make sure they don't age too much together, because when the fall comes, it can be precipitous.

‌Manchester City look threadbare, but they also have an ageing core group. I picked what I think is the best City 11 with all players being fit and available, and an average age of 29.5 years popped out.

This may sound perfect, but the likes of Phil Foden and Erling Haaland pulled that average down considerably.

There are also questions over finances. When some of those great older players move on, it will free up a chunk of the wage bill, but you have to be spending that money wisely.

‌City have been good at buying the best lately. Haaland and Josko Gvardiol were impossible not to spot so not that clever, but what about spending £100m on Jack Grealish. He is a seriously talented footballer, but when you look at what a player who cost that much should be contributing, the numbers are way off for a top-class creative forward.

In terms of combined Premier League goals and assists, it is well below contributing roughly one in every three games. Contrast that with Kevin de Bruyne and Mohamed Salah - or even David Silva, who he partially replaced.

More concerning, his numbers are nowhere near as good as Cole Palmer since he left to join a club who should have been much harder to create and score for.

If City have lost their mojo in the acquisitions department, that is much worse than losing four games in a row.

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Manchester United and Liverpool are monitoring 27-year-old Fulham and USA left-back Antonee Robinson. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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Maybe it is time to rethink how squads are built. Can Manchester City and, to a lesser extent, Arsenal still afford to be so top heavy with mega-huge earners?

When the superstars are injured, or off form, or just plain knackered, or - whisper it - just getting a little older, it leaves a very unbalanced looking group.

Their replacements aren't at nearly the same standard. More worryingly for the bean counters, they have lost the art of finding inexpensive rough diamonds and being able to polish them.

Other Premier League clubs have no sympathy for the stuttering giants. They understood they had to cut their cloth to suit their means.

So Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford, Fulham and others might not have the superstars, but they have balance. They typically have at least two players of similar ability for most positions.

That means you can cope with the injuries without the standard dropping too far. There are few irreplaceable stars.

In contrast, City without Rodri and Kevin de Bruyne, and Arsenal without Martin Odegaard, suddenly look a lot less invincible.

‌Maybe this is the biggest point about both sides' wobbles. They suddenly don't look invincible.

It will only take another couple of questionable performances and the vultures will be circling.

It is vicious, but in football there is nothing sweeter than feasting on a once-great beast that suddenly appears vulnerable.

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With only four points separating third and 13th, we do not normally see that many teams in this type of mini league.

Normally, you might have the teams in a pack around the top four or five and then another pack underneath that with your relegation pack as well, so the fact there is so many teams in it at this stage is making it different.

From the mental side of competing in that, you look at Manchester United who have struggled so much this season and are sitting 13th. If they get a win, it can shoot them right up the table. They are in a position to think they are only a few points off the Champions League places' and that is good.

But it can work both ways.

Knowing the points are so close can keep you strong, keep you competing and have that competitiveness because you know a result can jump you up. But on the flipside, you could easily go from seventh down to 13th in one weekend or from third down to 10th.

How you deal with it depends on the manager, the players and also the psychologists within the group. Psychology in sport is really important for whether you see the situation as a positive or a negative.

Whether it stays like this all season is hard to say as there have been some really inconsistent performances and results. The most consistent team is the one sitting at the top.

I do not know what the rest of the campaign has in store for these sides because all the teams seem to be able to take points off each other this season.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson