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A bomb, gang turf wars and the rise of club culture - poet, author and broadcaster David Scott looks at Manchester in the 1990s

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  1. Amorim needs time to adjust to pressure of new job - Moyespublished at 10:50 17 November

    Ruben Amorim looking at a picture of former Manchester United managersImage source, Getty Images

    Former Manchester United manager David Moyes believes Ruben Amorim might "take time to settle in" at Old Trafford but highlights there is a lot of "privilege" and "pressure" associated with the job.

    Moyes discussed his experience of taking charge of the Red Devils following the departure of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson on a special edition of BBC World Service's Sportsworld podcast.

    "It is a huge privilege to be given the chance to manage Manchester United," Moyes said. "There are only a few people who ever get the opportunity to manage at that level.

    "I haven't managed at Real Madrid but, for me, Manchester United is a club which has bigger support worldwide. Every newspaper in the world would have been covering this story, because there are so many Manchester United supporters worldwide.

    "So it is an incredible job, but it is different as well. I have to say that it carries a lot of pressure and an awful lot of media coverage. They are always looking for things on Manchester United.

    "It might take a little bit of time for him to settle in but, if he gets given the time by the board, his statistics and what he's doing at the moment shows up very well in Portugal."

    Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

  2. Amorim's backroom staff confirmedpublished at 09:35 17 November

    Manchester United have confirmed five members of Ruben Amorim's backroom staff, who all join the club from Sporting.

    Carlos Fernandes will work as Amorim's assistant head coach, with Adelio Candido and Emanuel Ferro coming in as first-team coaches.

    Jorge Vital takes up the role of first-team goalkeeper coach and Paulo Barreira arrives as physical performance coach.

    They join first-team coaches Darren Fletcher and Andreas Georgson, and assistant first-team goalkeeper coach, who were all at the club under Erik ten Hag.

    Ruben Amorim and Carlos FernandesImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Carlos Fernandes will be Ruben Amorim's assistant

  3. 'My main goal, my first goal, is identity'published at 10:33 16 November

    Simon Stone
    Chief football news reporter

    Ruben Amorim holding a Manchester United shirt up in front of the Stretford End at Old TraffordImage source, Getty Images

    The players Ruben Amorim met earlier in the week, including England trio Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount, were all doing rehabilitation, so it will be next week before Manchester United's new head coach really gets to work.

    It is likely to be Friday before he has his full squad together because of Alejandro Garnacho and Manuel Ugarte's international commitments in South America.

    Amorim's first game in charge is at Ipswich on 24 November and while the Portuguese accepts not everything will be to his satisfaction, he is promising fans they will see a team that is inherently his.

    "The most important thing for me at this moment is to create the principles, the identity and the character we had in the past," he told United club media.

    "We will focus a lot on our game model - how to play, how to press, these small things. You cannot go 100% on every detail because it will be confusing for the players. But if I have to say one thing, my main goal, my first goal, it is identity."

    Chief executive Omar Berrada was the driving force behind Amorim's appointment, with sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox the executives he will be working with most closely.

    "We want to do something special in a special club - that was a key point," Amorim added.

    "When Manchester United told me about their plans, you get excited. We know if the team plays well and wins games, everything looks so much better and the people really start to believe in the new stadium and new ideas.

    "It's a real honour that I was the first choice to start that path."

  4. 'Difficult' decisions with 'pressure' on injured playerspublished at 10:00 16 November

    Fara Williams, BBC Sport columnist banner
    Harry Kane speaks to the media at an England news conferenceImage source, Getty Images

    There has been some pressure on players carrying an injury going into international breaks with their national side because you are contracted to these clubs and that is where your income is.

    But, for me, as a player I had a similar mindset to Harry Kane that I would always be available - injured or not injured. I would have injections when I was on international duty just so I could represent my country because it meant that much.

    It is difficult, however. If you look at Jack Grealish and Pep Guardiola's comments, he has a point because the forward has not been able to play for Manchester City because of injuries. So if you have been sidelined for three or four games, I would agree that you are then not fit and available to go on international duty.

    But when you look at some of the other players, ones who have been playing and being managed by their club, then I do not see it being different to being played and managed by your country.

    From the club's side, when they are competing at such high levels in the Premier League, you can understand why they would want their players to be rested and get fully fit again over the two weeks, rather than having to come back straight into a hectic period of fixtures.

    I kind of get it from both points of view but, as a player, if I am half fit and being played by my club, I would be fully available for my national team.

    It is really difficult with the pressure that is on the players, though. I would not look at it as a decision players have made solely.

    Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

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  5. Gossip: United face battle for Goretzkapublished at 08:41 16 November

    Gossip graphic

    Manchester United will face competition from Union Berlin to sign 29-year-old Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka, who is frustrated with his situation at Bayern Munich. (Teamtalk), external

    Meanwhile, United believe they need to make a decision on whether to move for Rosenborg's Sverre Nypan soon to avoid being beaten to the 17-year-old Norwegian midfielder's signature. (Givemesport), external

    Want more transfer stories? Read Saturday's full gossip column