Ruben Amorim warned that difficult days are still ahead for Manchester United and they will “be revealed” in some matches. the Portuguese manager predicts “the storm will come” as he tries to stamp his mark on the squad.
Amorim has guided United to a draw at Ipswich, followed by back-to-back wins over Bodø/Glimt and Everton since taking over from Erik ten Hag, but now faces his biggest test yet – Wednesday night’s trip to title-holders Arsenal.
If United win at the Emirates Stadium, they will go three points clear of the Gunners, but Amorim believes it is the wrong start to compare his side to Arsenal.
“I want to say different things, but I have to say it again: the storm will come,” Amorim said about his side’s progress.
“We’re going to have tough times and we’re going to find out in some games. And I know that because I know my players and I know the difference between teams. We’re at the point where we put simple things in the team without training, and you feel it.
Against Everton, they were changing their formation. They are a very good team and we had a lot of problems because you can’t change by calling the captain something. We don’t have this training.
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Highlights of the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Everton
“So let’s focus on each game, what we need to improve to win games. I know it’s difficult to be Manchester United manager and say these things in press conferences.
“We want to win no matter what. We know we’re in a different situation than Arsenal. We’ll try to win, but we’ll go.” we know we have to play very well to win the next football game.”
“It is possible that I will not get the same time as Arteta.”
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Clinton Morrison spoke after Manchester United’s 4-0 win over Everton at the weekend, saying it wasn’t a “vintage performance” and he still doesn’t believe they can finish in the Premier League’s top four this season.
Amorim also believes he may not be given the same time and patience to turn United around that Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta was afforded a few seasons ago.
During Arsenal’s revival from bottom of the table to title winners, Arteta’s job security was at stake.
In his first full season in charge in 2020-21, Arteta steered Arsenal clear of the relegation zone at Christmas, while they began the following campaign with three successive defeats without scoring.
Now second-placed Arsenal play Manchester United as favourites, looking to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool, who have a nine-point buffer.
“It’s an amazing job, sometimes managers are just judged on titles, but what he did at Arsenal I think was amazing. He transformed the team,” Amorim said of Arteta.
“He’s brought in some youngsters who are great talents in this country now. I hope to have the same mentality in difficult moments because I’ve watched this league for a long time. That’s a very good trait for Mikel, so I think that he’s doing a great job.”
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Mikel Arteta has praised Bukayo Saka for his continuous desire to improve and has responded to a question about the winger’s output comparing him to Cristiano Ronaldo.
When asked if Arsenal are being rewarded for keeping faith in Arteta, United’s new manager replied: “It’s always important for a coach to have that confidence.
“But we have to accept that Manchester United is a bit different. All the attention you guys put in here all the time, so I know sometimes it’s not possible to have all that time.
“So we’re going to try to manage that and try to do things a little bit faster knowing that there’s a lot of focus and judgment here every day.”
Arteta: Losing to Amorim two years ago means nothing
Amorim’s Sporting beat Arsenal in the Europa League play-offs last year.
Arteta’s only previous meeting with Amorim came two seasons ago when his Arsenal beat Sporting CP on penalties in the last 16 of the Europa League.
Answering the question about the beginning of Amorim’s life in Manchester, Arteta said. “You could see his fingerprints right away. He was very clear.
“He’s been very successful with Sporting. It’s remarkable what he’s achieved there after so many years, especially how he’s done it.
“It brings energy and new ideas to the club and the players. That’s always a positive thing, but we have to focus on what we have to do.”
When asked if Arsenal were taking revenge on Amorim after their European failure two seasons ago, Arteta replied:
“It will be very different. We played against Sporting last week and it was very different from two years ago. It doesn’t matter.
