Manchester United are back in action this weekend as they welcome rivals Manchester City to Old Trafford.
Ruben Amorim’s side will be desperate to respond following a string of underwhelming performances that have left United stuck in mid-table.
With just nine league wins this season, Amorim’s debut campaign has been filled with growing pains as he works to instil a new playing identity at one of the world’s biggest clubs.
Injuries to key players and a lack of consistency have hampered progress, but behind the scenes, United’s leadership have initiated a long-term vision.
Dubbed “Project 21,” the aim is to guide the club to its 21st league title and 14th Premier League title by the time United celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2028.
However, the man at the helm has delivered a frank assessment of the immediate future.
Ahead of Sunday’s Manchester Derby, Amorim admitted that anyone expecting United to lift the Premier League title next season is being unrealistic.
Speaking to the press, he said, “I’m not naive.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CENTRE DEVILS WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!
“I’m not saying we’re going to win the title next year—I’m not crazy.”
While he praised the ambition of United’s long-term plans, he reiterated that he couldn’t adopt a relaxed approach to his own targets.
“I don’t want to think we need a lot of years to be competitive.
“I cannot manage like that,” he added.
The 39-year-old Portuguese coach stressed that the standards he is demanding behind the scenes are already taking shape, though the process will take time.
“We’re suffering a lot to be a lot better next year, and that’s our goal,” he said.
Rather than settle for slow progress, Amorim confirmed his intention to bring in a few top-level players this summer and push the team forward immediately.
Drawing comparisons to the past, he noted that football has changed since Sir Alex Ferguson’s era, with modern pressure and media scrutiny creating a new set of challenges.
“But we are Manchester United,” Amorim concluded.
“No matter the pressure, we have to be there with the other big ones.”
Amorim’s candid admission serves as a stark reminder of the work Manchester United still need to do before they can dream of lifting the Premier League trophy again.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CENTRE DEVILS WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!
Source: Centred Devils
