‘I’m not naive,’ says Ruben Amorim as Wayne Rooney criticises Manchester United manager’s title ambitions

MANCHESTER – Manager Ruben Amorim said winning the English Premier League remains the goal for a struggling Manchester United, despite former Red Devils forward Wayne Rooney saying the Portuguese was “naive” to say that.

United, who last won the league in 2013 under Sir Alex Ferguson, crashed out of the FA Cup on March 2 after losing to Fulham in penalties at Old Trafford.

Amorim, who joined United in November, said they remained committed to their goal of winning the league despite poor results.

“I know we’re losing games, but the goal is to win the Premier League again. I don’t know how long it will take. We have a goal and we continue forward no matter what,” Amorim told the BBC after the defending champions failed to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Rooney, who won the league five times with United during his playing career, said his former side, who are languishing in 14th place in the Premier League, have a long way to go before they challenge for the league title.

“I think 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 on the BBC’s Match Of The Day.

“He says winning the Premier League, how can they compete? To get further up the table, I think that’s the next step for them.”

When a reporter asked Amorim about Rooney’s comments, the manager insisted that winning the league remains the club’s goal, even if it does not happen in the near future.

“That is the goal. To be naive is to think we are going to do it this season or be the best contender next season. I know in this moment, everybody knows everything. I was a pundit... I know it’s really easy,” Amorim said at the post-match press conference.

“Maybe it is not with me but our goal, as a club, is to win the Premier League like we did in the past with all the great glories and legends of this club. We are in a difficult moment, and I’m not naive. That’s why I’m here, at 40 years old, coaching Manchester United.”

Amorim’s side trailed to Calvin Bassey’s first-half opener before Bruno Fernandes equalised to force a 1-1 draw after extra time. Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno was the hero in the shoot-out as he saved from Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee, with the visitors converting all four of their kicks.

“Unbelievable,” a smiling Leno told the BBC.

“I think we deserved to win after 90 minutes. Of course, penalties, it is sometimes a lottery and luckily we won. The goalie coach told me information, but my feeling is more important.

“I went the wrong way three times, but credit to our penalty takers – it is not easy. Brilliant job from all of us.”

His manager Marco Silva added: “I think we were the best team on the pitch. Our team was on the ball, dominating the ball. We deserve to be in the next stage.”

Booed off at half-time, it was another dismal result for the Red Devils in a wretched season.

The 13-time FA Cup winners had reached the final for the last two seasons and beat Manchester City to lift the trophy in 2024. But there will be no trip to Wembley this season for United, who have only the Europa League left as an opportunity to lift silverware. They face La Liga side Real Sociedad in a last-16, first leg on March 6.

Meanwhile, the Cottagers’ reward for beating United is a home tie in a London derby against Crystal Palace.

Brighton & Hove Albion will face the winners of the March 3 tie between Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town, which took place after press time.

Aston Villa travel to second-tier Preston North End, while Manchester City were handed a tough trip to Bournemouth. REUTERS, AFP