Ruben Amorim has expressed that Manchester United still has significant room for improvement, even as their recent performance has shown positive signs. He also defended his use of the 3-4-3 formation amid critiques.
Prior to the international break, United enjoyed a five-game unbeaten streak in the league, featuring a notable victory over Liverpool and gritty draws against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham.
Despite these achievements, Amorim contends that this progress highlights the gap between their current state and the caliber they aspire to reach. He emphasized that it is the team’s intensity, rather than the formation, that will ultimately drive their advancement.
“We are improving, but after the match against Tottenham, as I was returning to Carrington and reviewing the game, I felt a sense of frustration because we are still far from perfection,” Amorim remarked.
“We are not yet the team that can consistently win every match. There’s plenty of work ahead. I’ve maintained for some time now that the formation isn’t the issue,” he continued.
Ruben Amorim has insisted Manchester United are still ‘far from perfection’ despite their recent uptick in form
Before the international break, United put together a five-match unbeaten league run, including a statement win over Liverpool
“The formation serves as a foundation. What matters is the dynamics, the confidence, the style of play, and our competitiveness,” Amorim concluded.
‘If you look at the games we struggled in this season, it was not about the formation for me. It was the lack of intensity. We need to be perfect in this league to win a lot of games.’
His remarks land during a period in which pressure has eased significantly, in contrast to the scrutiny that surrounded him last season when United finished 15th and again earlier this campaign after a shock League Cup exit to League Two Grimsby Town.
Amorim has been under pressure for much of his year-long tenure, though he retains the support of senior figures, including co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Though he has insisted that the backing changes little in the way he worked or behaved.
‘It’s always really important, but it’s more important for the fans to understand that we have a clear path, and we are going to do everything and continue that path no matter what.
‘To be honest, it doesn’t change much for me, because I’m not worried about losing my job. I always have that feeling.
‘But if you remember when Jim gave that interview, it settled down a lot around the club. The noise changed completely. That was really important for the team, and if it’s important for the team, it’s important for me.’
United defender Matthijs de Ligt’s assessment mirrors that of his manager, with the Dutch centre back admitting his own form had improved after a shift in mentality.
Amorim has been under pressure for much of his year-long tenure, though he retains the support of senior figures, including co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Summer signing Benjamin Sesko suffered a knee injury in United’s draw with Spurs and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks
In an interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf last week, he stressed that United’s progress owed as much to confidence as structure, arguing that embracing responsibility had helped him rediscover consistency.
The Red Devils will return from the international break seventh in the Premier League and two points off the Champions League places, having missed out on European football altogether this season.
Their push resumes against Everton at Old Trafford next Monday night.
In an otherwise bright outlook, the injury to summer signing Benjamin Sesko remains a concern. The £73.7million forward suffered a knee injury in the draw with Spurs, reducing his side to ten men for the final minutes and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.
