Ruben Amorim is hoping to bring “one or two big players” to Manchester United this summer but admits even that won’t transform them into a contender over the next couple of years.
Amorim is still struggling to make his mark at United having taken 22 points from his 19 league games in charge, the latest of which saw them lose 1-0 at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night.
The Portuguese knows improvements to the squad are vital if 13th-placed United are to bridge the gap to Sunday’s opponents Manchester City and the Premier League’s other big hitters.
He said: “Not just Manchester City but other teams, they are already in a place where we need a lot to catch them. I just want to focus on our strengths and use our club to bring one or two big players [in]. We are doing all the stuff to be so much better next season. If it is going to take four years [to win the Premier League], I don’t know. Next season we need to be so much better.
“I cannot manage that [the expectation]. I know that we are not going to be the biggest contender in the next year or two years.
“We are doing a lot of things. Sometimes we have changed players because they have had to adjust to our new standards. We have changed a lot of staff, we have changed things inside the club. I cannot say we need a lot of years – I cannot manage that. I am not saying we are going to win the title in the next year – I am not crazy. Next year, we are suffering a lot to be so much better.”
Derby day memories ⏮️#MUFC pic.twitter.com/yVcY1PrPiV
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 4, 2025
I won’t get the time Fergie had – Amorim
The Premier League has changed over the past couple of years with United and Tottenham, traditional members of the big six, now languishing in the bottom half while the likes of Forest, Aston Villa and Newcastle, of course backed by the financial clout of Saudi Arabia, are heading in the opposite direction.
Amorim added: “Of course, the Premier League is so different. People say Sir Alex Ferguson took two or three times to win something… it is completely different nowadays. The pressure is different. No matter the context, we need to be there [at the top].”
ℹ️ Ruben gave updates on Kobbie and Matthijs ahead of the Manchester derby.#MUFC || #PL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 4, 2025
No sympathy for City’s struggles
City have also had their problems this season and their hopes of a fifth successive title evaporated a long time ago. Amorim, however, was not offering any sympathy to Pep Guardiola and Co.
“I am more focused on our problems; I think we have bigger problems than Manchester City,” he said.
“They had problems in that run [around Christmas]. They have improved. They have maybe the best coach in the world. They have top players. It will be a difficult match.
“I am so focused on improving my team, I am not focused on City’s improvements.”
United could welcome back England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo following a two-month injury absence for the weekend clash at Old Trafford but Netherlands defender Matthijs de Ligt is set to miss out after he sustained an ankle injury during the first half at the City Ground.
