Ruben Amorim responded to criticism from Wayne Rooney by doubling down on his assertion that Manchester United’s long-term goal is to win the Premier League.
The Red Devils were beaten 4-3 on penalties by Fulham in the FA Cup at Old Trafford on Sunday following a tense and fraught 1-1 draw across 120 minutes.
Bruno Fernandes levelled the game in the second half after Calvin Bassey’s opener, but Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee both had their penalties saved by Bernd Leno as Fulham reached the quarter-finals via the shootout at United’s expense.
After the match, Amorim said in an interview with BBC One, who were broadcasting the game, that United have hopes of winning the league title eventually.
United’s all-time record goalscorer Rooney was working as a BBC pundit on the game and said: “I think it's a little naïve to say they're looking to win the Premier League because from where they are now, they're a long way off that.
“To get further up the table, I think that's the next step for them.”
But Amorim repeated the club’s ambition when speaking in his post-match press conference as he responded to Rooney’s comments.
“I know that in this moment everyone knows everything,” he said. “I was a pundit when I finished my career, so I know it’s really easy.
“Our goal is to win the Premier League. Maybe not with me, but our goal — as a club, the board — is winning the Premier League, like we did in the past with all the glories and the legends of this club.
“We know we are in a difficult moment, and I’m not naïve. That’s why I’m here, at 40 years old, coaching Manchester United.”
The Red Devils have not won the Premier League since finishing as champions in the 2012/13 season, which was legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s last at the helm before he retired.
