Manchester United manager Rubén Amorim has publicly disagreed with the club's legendary former boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, over the timeline for a return to the top of English football.
Amorim's Optimistic Title Timeline
In a recent interview in Bahrain, Sir Alex Ferguson suggested it could take '10 or 11 years' before Manchester United are genuine title contenders again. He drew a parallel with Liverpool's 31-year wait to reclaim the league title after their own period of dominance.
However, the current United boss, Rubén Amorim, struck a far more optimistic note. While respectfully acknowledging Ferguson's unparalleled knowledge, Amorim firmly believes the wait will be much shorter. 'He understands football more than I do, especially English football,' Amorim conceded. 'But I don't think it will take that long for us to win a league. I don't know which manager, but I sincerely believe we will fight for the title in the coming years.'
Defending Captain Fernandes
Amorim was also asked to comment on recent remarks made by his captain, Bruno Fernandes. In an interview with the Portuguese Football Federation, Fernandes had expressed frustration, stating he looks around and sees 'players who do not value the club as much as you, and do not defend the club as much.'
The United manager defended his compatriot, framing the comments as an expression of personal feeling and highlighting Fernandes's exemplary commitment as a standard others should follow. 'He spoke about his feelings and he has to answer for that, not to me,' Amorim said. 'He is an example. He gives everything in every training session and in every match. It is a great example. When I see Bruno train and play, he is a special character.'
Injury and Absence Woes for Villa Trip
On the immediate practical front, Amorim confirmed a series of setbacks for Sunday's trip to face Aston Villa. Key defenders Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt have not recovered from injury in time for the match.
The squad is further depleted by international duty and suspension:
- Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo have joined Noussair Mazraoui at the Africa Cup of Nations.
- Midfielder Casemiro is suspended for the fixture.
This leaves Amorim with significant selection headaches as he looks to navigate a crucial away game with a patched-up side.
While Ferguson praised Amorim's 'good personality' but cautioned that the task ahead is 'not easy,' the current incumbent is choosing to focus on a faster route back to glory. The stark difference in perspective sets up a fascinating subplot to United's ongoing rebuild.
