Amorim dismisses claims that Manchester United require ‘many years’ to become title challengers once more.

In his latest press conference, Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim shared insights ahead of this weekend’s significant matchup against Manchester City.

Amorim is optimistic about orchestrating yet another victory over City, following a series of wins in their earlier encounters this season.

He kicked off the briefing with a mix of updates on players such as Mason Mount, Matthijs de Ligt, and Kobbie Mainoo, who could potentially make returns to the squad for Sunday’s match.

Regarding Mount, he stated: “Absolutely, he can feature from the start, but we need to carefully manage his minutes.”

He also provided updates on de Ligt and Mainoo, noting that while they may not complete a full 90 minutes against City, they could be involved in the coming weeks.

“I believe Kobbie is back in training, so we’ll evaluate his situation for this match,” said the head coach. “However, he won’t be able to last a full game given the time he’s spent away from training.”

“Matthijs (de Ligt) has been dealing with an issue. He picked up a knock during the match against Forest, and we need to assess it. Otherwise, the rest are fit.”

Amorim then discussed United’s title ambitions for the upcoming season. He acknowledged the challenge and seemed cautious about claiming his side would be serious contenders too soon, yet he expressed a desire to expedite improvements.

“I recognise my limitations; I don’t want to be in a position where it takes us several years to become competitive,” he remarked. “I can’t adopt that mindset, nor can I manage it—that’s not who I am.”

“That’s why I’m holding myself to high standards. I’m aware that we won’t be major title contenders in the immediate future; there’s plenty of work to be done. We’re implementing significant changes within the team and sometimes replacing players when they don’t meet our new standards. Adjusting to these changes is a challenge that often takes more than a year.”

“We’re also undergoing many changes in our staff and the club’s internal structure. I understand it will require time, but I refuse to accept the notion that we need years to achieve success. We are gearing up for substantial changes next year. While I’m not claiming we’ll win the title then, I want to eliminate the narrative that years are required for a turnaround.”

“We need to maintain our composure but remain focused. We are pushing hard to ensure next season is vastly improved—that is our objective. Unexpected things can happen, but I won’t be the coach who preaches the need for patience.”

Lastly, he addressed his ambitions for the club and how he copes with the high expectations surrounding a team of United’s stature, especially given his relatively short time in charge.

“From next season onwards, we must significantly elevate our performance because this is a prestigious club, and I thrive on that pressure, along with everyone here,” he affirmed.

“Our focus must remain on enhancing every aspect of our team. The Premier League landscape has changed dramatically; many people claim Sir Alex Ferguson took three to four years to secure silverware, but that’s not feasible in today’s environment. The media demands are relentless; managers have to navigate numerous interviews leading up to every match, so the pressure is entirely different now.”

“Any team in the Premier League has the potential to win, yet we are Manchester United. We have both strengths and weaknesses. Regardless of the circumstances, we need to compete with the very best. We will face significant challenges against strong teams, more so than in the past, but let’s concentrate on that and aim to win our next game.”