Ruben Amorim insists Manchester United will be title contenders sooner than Sir Alex Ferguson thinks after the legendary Old Trafford boss warned it could be ’10 or 11 years’ before the club can challenge again.
Ferguson made the claim in an interview in Bahrain as he cast doubt over how quickly United can return to the pinnacle of English football.
But Amorim believes the club can mount a title bid before then, saying: ‘He understands football more than me, especially English football. But I think we will not take that long to win a league. I don’t know which manager, but I truly believe we are going to fight for the title in the next years.’
Amorim was also asked about comments by Bruno Fernandes in an interview with the Portuguese Football Federation in which his captain said that ‘you look around and see players who don’t value the club as much as you do, and don’t defend the club as much’.
The United boss defended his compatriot and said that more players at the club need to follow Fernandes’ example.
‘I don’t know if it is fair,’ said Amorim. ‘He spoke about his feelings and he needs to answer to that not me. He is an example. He puts everything on the line in every training session and every match. He is a big example. He spoke his feelings and when I watch Bruno training and playing, he is a special character.’
Amorim confirmed that neither Harry Maguire or Matthijs de Ligt have recovered in time for Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa. Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo have now joined Noussair Mazraoui on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Casemiro is suspended.
Speaking to Press Box PR recently, Ferguson had said: ‘He [Amorim] is a good personality, [but] it is not easy.
‘I remember looking back on my own time there, starting off when Liverpool were the bee’s knees. They were a fantastic club winning the European Cup four times and all that, but then it took them 31 years to win the league again.
‘We are now in the same situation. It could be ten years, could be 11 years, because of that cycle.
‘It has to be thought out carefully and we have to make sure the recruitment is going to be better than what it was.’
