Ruben Amorim is cautious about the progress of the revamped Manchester United, given their unexpected setbacks and familiar challenges in his first season.
The upcoming encounter at Old Trafford against Everton marks the one-year anniversary of his debut match, which took place away at Ipswich.
Amorim’s first match ended in a 1-1 draw at Portman Road, and he has faced more difficulties than successes during his initial campaign. However, United’s fortunes are looking brighter, as they sit seventh in the league and are unbeaten in their last five matches.
When asked about United’s schedule, which includes only three top-10 teams in their next ten fixtures, he replied: “It doesn’t matter. In our league, none of that really matters.”
“The standings are so tightly packed that they become irrelevant. Our team’s history shows that we can never predict which matches will pose the biggest challenges. This is the nature of the Premier League.
Much has changed for United since last November’s trip to Ipswich, where Marcus Rashford netted an early goal in the 1-1 draw.
The forward is one of five starters from that match who have since left, highlighting the significant overhaul necessary for the team, as Amorim realized during his hectic first week.
“The first thought I had was about the vastly different environment in the Premier League, which excited me,” he said.
“From the start, I understood we would face some challenges, but I had the feeling that this is the best league in the world and possibly the best club. Yet, it’s a big responsibility that will demand a lot of effort.”
Although there is still work to be done, United has made progress over the past year, preparing to return home for the first time since October 25 after drawing with Nottingham Forest and Tottenham.
Amorim believes these recent results reflect a shift in mentality, with the squad beginning to resemble the team he envisions.
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“I believe we are showing signs of improvement, but we cannot overlook where we started last year; we suffered greatly,” he said. “We must keep that in mind and approach every match as if it were both our last and our first.”
“If you ask me, I expect to see a team that plays with greater control and dominance, showcases better football, and most importantly, is more competitive in every respect.”