Ruben Amorim has stood firm in his ambition to lead Manchester United to a Premier League title, despite being branded “naive” by club legend Wayne Rooney.
After United’s disappointing FA Cup exit to Fulham, Amorim, who is currently overseeing a struggling team sitting 14th in the Premier League, remained positive about the long-term goal of winning the league.
Rooney, speaking on BBC One, responded to Amorim’s comments by suggesting it was unrealistic to talk about competing for the Premier League given the current state of the team.
“It’s a little naive to say they’re looking to win the Premier League because from where they are now, they’re a long way off that,” he said, acknowledging that Amorim would likely get time but insisting that improvement was needed before aiming for the title.
Amorim, undeterred by Rooney’s criticism, defended his high ambitions and responded with a pointed remark at the former striker.
“No, that is the goal,” he said. “Being naive is to think we’re going to win the title this season or be the best contender next season. I know it’s easy to critique from the outside, but our goal is to win the Premier League.”
Amorim stressed that, while the team faces a challenging period, the ultimate objective remains to return Manchester United to the heights of past glory.
He also noted that his presence as a 40-year-old manager shows his commitment to the club’s vision. “Maybe it is not with me, but our goal as a club, with the board, is winning the Premier League,” he concluded.
