Ruben Amorim expressed that Manchester United is far from competing at the top of the Premier League, following their 1-0 loss to 10-man Everton on Monday night.
United had the opportunity to enter the Champions League positions with a victory over David Moyes’ team at Old Trafford, but it was Everton who claimed all three points, even after Idrissa Gueye received a red card just 13 minutes into the match for hitting teammate Michael Keane.
Post-match, Amorim admitted his team “deserved to lose” and expressed concerns about slipping back into last season’s poor form, which had left United in 15th place.
“We are not even close to where we need to be to compete for top positions in the league,” he stated. “While many are praising our recent progress, I continuously acknowledge that we are still far from being where we should be in this club.”
“I fear falling back into the feelings of last season, and that is my primary worry,” he added.
Amorim voiced his disappointment in his players, indicating that he envied the determination shown by Everton, despite Gueye’s early sending-off.
He urged his squad to adopt a similar fighting spirit when they return to training at Carrington on Tuesday.
“Fighting is an essential part of the game,” he remarked. “It doesn’t imply animosity among players. It’s about the commitment to win the ball back—to prevent a goal from being scored against us. That was the spirit I felt was lacking today.”
“I hope my players will strive to fight for each other when they lose possession. That attitude fosters teamwork and commitment,” he continued.
“Although we’ve shown in several matches our potential, we didn’t demonstrate it today. We will improve and overcome this frustration,” he concluded.
Currently sitting 10th in the Premier League after the loss to Everton, United’s next match is against Crystal Palace on November 30.