Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has defended saying the club’s goal is to win the Premier League after his remarks were called “naive” by the team’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney following their FA Cup exit to Fulham.
United were defeated 4-3 on penalties by Fulham on Sunday after missed spot-kicks from Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee, ending their hopes of winning the FA Cup for the second straight year. United defeated Manchester City in last year’s final under Amorim’s predecessor Erik ten Hag.
Amorim’s side are 14th in the league table, 14 points off the top four and 34 points behind leaders Liverpool. Their only remaining chance at silverware this season is in the Europa League.
The 40-year-old said in his post-match interview that the club remained focused on returning to former glories of league title victories.
“The goal is to win the Premier League,” he told BBC Sport. “I know that we are losing games but the goal is to win the Premier League again. I don’t know how long it will take.
“We have a goal and we continue forward no matter what. It’s impossible to know but you start understanding the players are better and we understand the league. We’ll see in the future.”
Rooney, serving as a pundit on the match for BBC Sport, described Amorim’s comments as “naive.”
“Managers aren’t getting that time over the last 10, 15 years,” he said. “You have to be selfish as a manager and say ‘OK, if I don’t do it now I might not get that time.’
“I think it’s a little naive to say they’re looking to win the Premier League because from where they are now, they’re a long way off that.”
Zirkzee’s deciding penalty was saved by Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno (Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images)
Last autumn, INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford announced to United staff the launch of Mission 21, a programme designed to build towards United’s 21st league title. The club also have Project 150, a plan to mark the club’s 150th anniversary in 2028 by winning the title.
When asked in his post-match press conference about Rooney’s comments, Amorim defended his remarks – though he admitted that he might not be in the dugout the next time the team win the title.
“That is the goal (to win the league),” Amorim said. “To be naive is to think we are going to do it this season or be the best contender next season. So I know that in this moment everybody knows everything. I know that and it’s really easy — I was a pundit when I finished my career. I know it’s really easy.
“Our goal is to win the Premier League. Maybe it is not with me. But our goal, as a club, the board, is to win the Premier League like we did in the past with all the great glories and legends of this club and we will want to do better and we are in a difficult moment.
“I’m not naive, that’s why I’m here, at 40 years old, coaching Manchester United.”
Bruno Fernandes scored the equaliser for United after Calvin Bassey gave Fulham the lead in the first half, with neither side being able to find a winner in regulation or extra-time.
GO DEEPER
Manchester United 1 Fulham 1 (3-4 on pens): FA Cup holders out, what’s left of this season for Amorim?
Amorim said that his team have a “problem with goals” after the match.
“Today we create situations, but in the last games you feel in that is it just in set-pieces that we will create some danger,” he said.
“So I think the first step is to create situations. Today we created but we have to improve to help our forwards and strikers to score.”
United return to action with a visit to Real Sociedad on Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie.
(Carl Recine/Getty Images)
