Manchester United’s Ruben Amorim urges focus on future after Cristiano Ronaldo criticism

LONDON – Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has responded to stinging criticism from club great Cristiano Ronaldo, urging fans and pundits alike to look forward rather than dwell on the past.

Ronaldo, who won nine trophies at United, told Piers Morgan in an interview aired this week that United were “not in a good path” and warned that Amorim was “not going to do miracles” there.

Amorim, who took over from Erik ten Hag in November 2024, hit back ahead of the English Premier League clash at Tottenham Hotspur on Nov 8.

“Of course, he has a huge impact in everything he said,” the Portuguese said. “What we need to focus (on) is in the future.

“We know that we as a club made a lot of mistakes in the past, but we are trying to change that. So let’s not focus on what happened. Let’s focus (on) what we are doing now.

“We are changing a lot of things in the structure, the way we do things, the way we want the players to behave. We are doing that and we are improving.”

United have shown signs of improvement, climbing to eighth, two points off second spot, after a four-game unbeaten run.

Provisional second place in the table is up for grabs on Nov 8 in a grudge game for Amorim’s side, after Spurs beat them 1-0 in last season’s Europa League final to deny the Red Devils Champions League action this season. 

Amorim credited internal reforms for the turnaround.

“Characteristics of the players are different in the team now,” he said. “We also have players who played last year.

“But we are a better team. We understand the game better. We are more confident.

“We reached the Europa League final confident that we could win it. But in this moment, we’re playing with a different confidence.”

He added that there was a silver lining to missing out on European football this season.

“It’s us using the positives,” he said. “Any situation you have in life, you can look at it positively or in a bad way. If you ask me whether I prefer to be here with the Cup and Champions League football, I might say yes.

“But on the other side, you have more time to train and know your players. Arrange everything and prepare with the staff and players. So we try to use the positive thing of not playing in the midweek games.”

In another match, Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka will be hoping to breach his former club Arsenal’s rock-solid defence.

Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have won their past eight games in all competitions without conceding a goal, a joint-record for an English top-flight club.

They are six points clear at the summit of the Premier League and are second in the Champions League, level on points with leaders Bayern Munich.

Xhaka has been a revelation since joining newly promoted Sunderland from Bayer Leverkusen. He was described by ex-Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher as the “signing of the season”.

The Switzerland midfielder scored his first goal for the Black Cats against Everton on Nov 3 and also has three assists.

Xhaka, 33, said he was looking forward to facing a club where he spent “seven amazing years”.

“We know the quality that Arsenal has,” he told Sky Sports. “It will be an emotional game for myself.”

Chelsea host bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers in the late kick-off. On Nov 9, fifth-placed Bournemouth travel to Aston Villa who, despite being 11th, are only four points behind second-placed Manchester City.

Brentford welcome Newcastle United on the same day, when Nottingham Forest will seek their first Premier League win under new manager Sean Dyche as they host Leeds United. REUTERS, AFP