Ruben Amorim's initial task at should be to stabilise the club, says Glen Johnson. Following a chaotic conclusion to the previous season and an equally disorderly start to this one, Erik ten Hag's stint as Red Devils manager came to a sudden end last month. With Ruud van Nistelrooy stepping in temporarily, Amorim was quickly secured as his successor.

The ex-Sporting CP boss, who is set to introduce a fresh tactical style at Old Trafford, joins United while they sit 13th in the Premier League but only four points adrift of third place. If Amorim can hit the ground running, United still can salvage their season and mount a serious top-four finish challenge.

However, Johnson, who made 200 appearances for Liverpool, believes the 39-year-old shouldn't arrive with specific objectives but rather focus on calming the currently turbulent situation at United.

"I don't think it would be like, 'The season's target is to finish fifth.' I think it will be to come in and steady the ship, let the dust settle," Johnson shared with , commenting on Amorim's appointment.

"Let's make baby steps rather than getting carried away and position ourselves so we're going to start competing from the start of next season.

"The season's not over for them of course they're capable of going on a good run, but the absolute best they could hope for would be challenging for a place in the top four because they're certainly not going to win the league.

"For Amorim, it's more about building so they're competitive for the next 3-4 years, not just finishing as high as they can this season. He will be playing the long game."

Amorim has, however, candidly expressed his anticipations following his last match in charge of Sporting - a 4-2 victory over former club Braga - acknowledging the road ahead will be laden with challenges, reports

"I'm not naive, I know it's going to be very different, very difficult," asserted Amorim after the game. "I'm at peace now. I can focus on my new job and I'm looking forward to starting. "I know it will be difficult to reproduce what I have here anywhere else but there are other places with different exposure and pressure."

Nevertheless, the Portuguese tactician has a clear blueprint for setting up his squad: "I know how I am going to play in the beginning because you have to start with a structure that you know, and then you will adapt with the players that you have.

"Some injuries or no injuries, what kind of players, the abilities to defend, to attack... I will discover that in the next few weeks," Amorim concluded.