Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim expressed his strong belief that his Manchester United team can regain its former glory and seriously compete for the English Premier League title much sooner than club legend Sir Alex Ferguson predicted. These comments come as the club seeks to rebuild its identity and return to the winners' podium after years of absence.
Ferguson and Liverpool scenario fears
Since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement from management after winning the league title in 2013, the club has entered a dark period of technical and administrative turmoil, with the Red Devils failing to add another league title to their trophy cabinet of 20. Ferguson recently told Pressbox PR that he fears United could find themselves in the same situation as their arch-rivals Liverpool, who had to wait a full 30 years (from 1990 to 2020) to lift the league trophy again.
The legendary United manager added that the return could take "10 or 11 years" more before the Premier League trophy returns to the Theatre of Dreams, Old Trafford, noting the difficulty of competing in light of the development of other clubs.
Amorim responded: We will not wait a decade
In contrast, Amorim refused to succumb to this pessimistic view. The team's current manager told reporters on Friday: "He (Ferguson) understands football better than I do, especially English football and its history. But I firmly believe that we won't have to wait that long to win the league.".
The Portuguese coach added optimistically, "I don't know who the coach will be then, but I truly believe we have what it takes to compete for the title in the next few years, and I think it won't take as long as some fear." This confidence comes amidst a new sporting project the club's management is trying to establish to close the gap with top clubs like Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal.
The Bruno Fernandes crisis and the current situation
On another note, the press conference addressed the situation of team captain Bruno Fernandes, who revealed to Portuguese media that the club had planned to sell him last summer, causing him psychological pain despite his staying at the request of Amorim.
Amorim commented on his compatriot's remarks, saying, "He expressed his feelings honestly. Of course, we prefer to avoid this kind of media hype, but he spoke with the management, and I think things are clear now." The coach defended his captain, praising his commitment: "I think he's a role model because he gives everything in training and matches. He's a special and exceptional player in that respect.".
Manchester United currently sit sixth in the league table and are preparing for a tough match against third-placed Aston Villa on Sunday, in a real test of how well the team has developed under Amorim after a season of inconsistent results.
