The two teams collide for the first time since April 2017 when United secured a 3-0 victory over the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light. Amorim’s job is hanging by a thread at the moment, and a win is imperative if he wants to avoid what could be a swift sacking over the weekend.
Sunderland will be "a really tough match"
Amorim firstly spoke on this weekend’s opponents, who have accumulated an impressive 11 points from their opening six games.
"It’s going to be a really tough match, they are doing really well. When you see their games, they draw with one less player in the final of the game.
“They draw a point and then win in the final play against Brentford. I think the details are changing a lot the table, so we need to pay attention to that. So it’s a team that plays really well, with a clear system, 4-3-3 with a lot of rotations on the side of the pitch.
“They will be confident and know we are under pressure. We need to be prepared for that. It will be a tough match."
"It’s not just the table and the results, which are in the end what matter most, but it’s the way they play. They have a clear identity, they have a very good manager and they are a good team."
Consistency is key
United are unbeaten in their last 24 Premier League encounters with newly-promoted teams but have lacked the consistency in recent months to take confidence from such a statistic. Amorim said this must change.
"We already talk about that, if you see during the six games during this season we are not always the same team in small things. More in the way we play.
"All the effort that we put, the maximum effort into every single thing. I think it's not the same in different matches. We have to find that balance - it will change everything for us."
Amorim's tactical system is not the problem
Amorim was then asked about critcism from former United players and pundits to which he stated that his system and tactical style are not the problem.
"The way we concede goals, create chances, that is nothing to do with the system, that is my opinion. I'm not saying this team will do better in a different system, that's not my point.
"My point is if I look at the games we didn't win, the most important thing when I watched the game is not we lost because of the system. That is my opinion, then people have different opinions and that's ok.
"It (his system) was (disjointed against Brentford), but you cannot say one thing doesn’t work, when it works one weekend. When things work one day and the other doesn’t. It is something about the way we do the same thing.
"We need to do the same thing, in the same way, every way, and we are not doing it the same every day. Some of you guys have a different opinion, but that's ok."
Fans need to believe again
Finally, the Portuguese manager opened up on restoring belief to the fans who do not have the highest hopes in him at the moment after a dire start to the campaign.
"It is not the time to say, it is time to show. I can look at the games this season, for me they are completely different, there are some things the same, some different. There are other things we cannot change. In the other games we are not the same team in some details. I have nothing to say in this moment. My job is to prepare the team."