Manchester United not ready to play in Europe, says Amorim

Manchester United is not ready to play in Europe and needs more time to build a solid foundation to be competitive in the Champions League, said coach Ruben Amorim Tuesday.

United, which ended 15th in the Premier League last season, missed the opportunity to qualify for the European top club competition when it lost in the Europa League final of Tottenham Hotspur in May.

«I think we were not willing to play in Europe, that is my feeling. To have strong competitions in the Champions League and then play Premier League, we need time to develop as a team,» Amorim reporters said in the fourth round in the fourth round Grimsby Town in the fourth round of Wednesday.

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«So (the players) have to fight for their places, and then everything can change.»

United did not win this season in the first two Premier League matches, after he had lost his opening match 1-0 at home against Arsenal before he was held 1-1 in Fulham on Sunday.

Amorim blamed the defensive mindset of his team for vomiting the management against Fulham, and emphasized that the players should improve.

«The games are real, really competitive. We need time to build the basics and then, in the future, to continue. We will achieve a moment when we have to have Europe to play games,» Amorim said.

The Portuguese coach added that defender Noussair Mazraoui, who sustained an injury in the preseason, could be back next week.

«Maybe he will return next week, we will see it. But he is in the neighborhood, we are just some exercises with him, to be (be) assured that he is not going to have any other problem,» he said.

Published August 26, 2025