Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has insisted his recent meeting with club co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was not a crisis talk, despite the team’s disappointing start to the season.
United have collected just four points from their opening four Premier League matches and were knocked out of the League Cup by fourth-tier Grimsby in what many described as a humiliating exit.
Amorim, who has won only eight of his 31 league matches since taking charge in November, revealed that Ratcliffe reaffirmed the board’s backing and the long-term vision for the club.
“A new contract,” Amorim joked when asked about the discussions. “No, it is normal things, just to show the support and explain that it is a long project.”
United endured a miserable campaign last season, finishing 15th in the Premier League — their lowest top-flight finish since 1973-74 — and missing out on Champions League football after losing the Europa League final to Tottenham.
Despite the underwhelming results, Amorim maintained that the team is progressing, stressing the need for greater efficiency in both penalty boxes.
“This is football at the club with maybe more pressure in the world, but we want to win,” he said.
“I think last year I was very critical of the way we played. I think we are playing well until the boxes, defending and attacking, we need to be more aggressive in the boxes, more clinical. The rest, I think we are improving compared to last year. But again, we need to win. Losing, especially early in the season after last year, is a problem.”
United host Chelsea at Old Trafford on Saturday in another stern test, but Amorim will welcome Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha back from injury.
