Amorim disputes Ferguson’s decade timeline as United eye quicker title bid

Ruben Amorim has rejected Sir Alex Ferguson’s warning that Manchester United may need as long as a decade to reclaim the Premier League title, insisting the club can compete for the crown much sooner. In remarks circulated after a recent media event, the Portuguese coach said United could win the league in a shorter horizon and that he believes the team will be in the title mix in the coming years. "He understands football more than me, especially English football. But I truly believe we are going to fight for the title in the next years," Amorim said.

Amorim was also asked about comments by United captain Bruno Fernandes, who suggested some players at the club do not value the shirt as much as others. United manager Erik ten Hag defended Fernandes, saying the Portugal midfielder shows a level of commitment that others should emulate. Amorim added that Fernandes is a big example, noting how he trains and performs with a level of dedication that stands out to teammates.

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The comments come as United prepare for a Premier League trip to Aston Villa on Sunday, with injury concerns clouding the buildup. Amorim confirmed that neither Harry Maguire nor Matthijs de Ligt will be fit in time for the match, limiting options at centre-back just as the squad faces a congested schedule. On the broader picture, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo have joined Noussair Mazraoui on Africa Cup of Nations duty, while Casemiro remains suspended.

Ferguson’s remarks were made during an interview in Bahrain, where he argued that United’s current cycle mirrors Liverpool’s long drought after their late-20th-century dominance. He warned it could be ten or eleven years before United regain their title supremacy, stressing that recruitment and strategic planning would be crucial to shortening the wait. "It has to be thought out carefully and we have to make sure the recruitment is going to be better than what it was," Ferguson said, underscoring the scale of the challenge ahead for the club.

Amorim’s stance underscores a broader willingness within United to pursue a return to the summit more rapidly than Ferguson’s years-long projection. While the manager’s job remains to balance immediate results with long-term development, the Portuguese coach’s comments emphasize a belief that a rebuilt title bid can take shape sooner than the historic cycles that have defined the club in recent decades.

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