Manchester United winger Amad has expressed his sadness over the dismissal of manager Ruben Amorim, describing the Portuguese as a father figure. Amorim was sacked last week following a heated post-match press conference after a 1-1 draw with Leeds United.
Amad, currently on international duty with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations, said he was 'gutted' by the news. 'He's the coach who gave me more visibility and more opportunities to play for Manchester United,' Amad said. 'I sent him a message to thank him for everything he did for me – in my life and especially in my career.'
The winger, who flourished under Amorim's guidance, described their relationship as 'almost like a father-and-son relationship'. He added: 'He understood me, gave me a lot of advice, and let me play freely. It's very unfortunate, but that's life. You have to adapt, that's football.'
Amad is focused on the Africa Cup of Nations, where Ivory Coast face Egypt in a quarter-final on Saturday. A win would keep him away from United for the upcoming Premier League match against Manchester City; a defeat would see him return in time for the derby. United have also been affected by other players' AFCON commitments, with Noussair Mazraoui potentially absent due to Morocco's progression to the semi-finals.
