Ruben Amorim has fired back at Wayne Rooney after the Manchester United legend labeled him “naive” for daring to target Premier League glory amid the club’s worst season in decades. Rooney made the comments on BBC on the eve of United’s exit from the FA Cup at home to Fulham. Rooney called out Amorim’s ambition as naive right now and talked of having stability before thinking about challenging for the title, considering United are struggling in the league, one of their worst standings in decades.
Amorim’s post-match comments after United’s penalty shootout collapse raised eyebrows. “Our goal is to win the Premier League,” he declared, despite sitting 14th in the table. Rooney, analyzing for the BBC, didn’t hold back: “It’s a little naive to say they’re looking to win the Premier League. From where they are now, they’re a long way off.”
Amorim’s retort? A thinly veiled dig at Rooney’s punditry takes. “Being naive is to think we’ll do it this season or next. I know that in this moment everybody knows everything. I know that it is really easy. I was a pundit when I finished my career. I know it is really easy.” The Portuguese added, “We want to do better and we know that we are in a difficult moment. I am not naive. That is why I am here coaching Manchester United at 40 years old.”
The FA Cup exit closed the door for United to win any domestic trophy this year after another dire United performance gave Fulham a win on penalties. Calvin Bassey’s header put Fulham ahead before Bruno Fernandes’s equalizer brought them back into the game. However, penalties close down the curtain on United’s FA Cup defence as Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee missed their penalties, much to the disappointment of United fans at Old Trafford.
With the FA Cup gone and the Premier League a write-off already, United’s season hinges on the Europa League. Lose to Real Sociedad on Thursday and Amorim’s problems just get a bit more intense amid financial nightmares under FFP and a disjointed squad ahead of an ambitious plan by Amorim to win the Premier League in the future. To top up Amorim’s problems, Harry Maguire will also be a doubt for the Sociedad game as he forced off with an injury amid an already thin squad due to injuries.