Ruben Amorim has set a surprising Manchester United target that wasn't the norm during Sir Alex Ferguson's reign at the helm of the Red Devils
17:00, 22 Nov 2025
Ruben Amorim
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Ruben Amorim's Man Utd are back on the offensive(Image: Getty Images)
Ruben Amorim has spent this weekend stressing the importance of perspective to his Manchester United squad.
United return to domestic action following the international break in confident mood, following five games unbeaten. The run is the best one since Amorim took charge 12 months ago.
The upturn in form has also lifted United to within touching distance of the title race. But Amorim has suffered enough lows in Manchester to guarantee him keeping his feet on the ground.
Which means he has no plans to pop the champagne corks, just because United have climbed into the top half of the table and not lost for almost half-a-dozen games. This sort of form is expected at a club like United.
It used to be the norm when Sir Alex Ferguson was manager. And Amorim will not rest - or get lost in his own self-importance - until he has a team which can demonstrate on a regular and consistent basis that it can challenge for the biggest trophies.
Ruben Amorim
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Manchester United are back in action this weekend
During the international break, Amorim was without a host of his most influential stars. So he took the chance to sit down and watch a video of United's recent 2-2 draw at Tottenham.
It was a game United had in their grasp, contrived to lose, then rescued a point at the death. The result disappointed Amorim.
But what impressed him was the desire, work rate and intensity his players showed from start to finish.
It used to be the norm when Sir Alex Ferguson was manager
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It used to be the norm when Sir Alex Ferguson was manager(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
And he has made it clear to his squad the bar has been set. That these levels of application are the minimum he expects, whether United are facing Liverpool at Anfield, or hosting Everton at Old Trafford, like they will be doing on Monday night.
In short, Amorim has made it clear United have achieved nothing yet. And he remains convinced showing these qualities will determine the future of his side, not the tactics and system he sticks with.
In a recent interview, Amorim said: "It's not a surprise for me that we are improving, we are getting better. I watched the game again (against Tottenham), and my feeling was of frustration that we are far from perfection.
"We are far from the team that can win every game, so I think we have a lot to do. We need to be perfect in this league to win a lot of games."
Perfection still feels like a long way off when it comes to United. But Amorim's men can strengthen the growing feel good factor around Old Trafford with a win over Everton.
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Lose, and Amorim will think he's back to square one again.