Ruben Amorim will make a public apology toManchester Unitedfans on the pitch after their final home game of the season, but the head coach admitted he does not know how long it will take the club to challenge at the top of the table again. United face Aston Villa on Sunday to conclude a desperate season without a trophy and potentially in 17th place, but the players will undertake a lap of honour at Old Trafford.
Their last chance of salvaging something from the campaign ended with a dismal performance in the Europa League final on Wednesday,losing 1-0 to Tottenham, ensuring United will not compete in Europe next season.
“An apology is clear. An explanation, you don’t have time,” Amorim said of his planned speech. “I will be honest with the fans and I will say what is in my mind and what is in my heart.”
Amorim said of the lap of honour: “It’s tradition and we have to face it. It will be the biggest mistake if we don’t do that. I know that the manager addresses the public, I will do that because it’s the minimum. The least I can do is to talk with the fans and to say what I want to say. I will decide tomorrow, I have an idea, so we will do that because if there is a season that we need to do it, it’s this one, and of course we will be there.”
Since arriving in November, Amorim has secured six Premier League victories in his 26 games in charge but insists the club is now healthier than when he arrived. United would finish the season one place above the relegation zone if Tottenham fare better on Sunday.
“Things can change fast,” he said. “But to reach the kind of level that we need to be as Manchester United is going to take time. But I cannot say how many windows, how many years we need to reach that point. But we can improve. That is clear.”
Asked if United’s issues were bigger than he thought when offered the job, Amorim said: “Yes, the problems for me was deeper than I was thinking because I can watch, I can feel it during training at Carrington, all our organisation, then it’s not the problems, but the stability in our club.
“Everybody is changing, all the departments are changing, so we did that in one year. In six months, we are doing everything, so everything is more difficult, but I think we are getting some steps to improve things. You cannot see that because results are so poor, but we are in a better place, that I can guarantee you.”
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Amorim refused to be drawn on the future of Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho. Fernandes, the club captain, has been linked with a move to the Middle East, with the Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal reportedly setting a deadline next week for a decision, while Garnachocast doubt on his own futureafter complaining about being left on the bench until the last 20 minutes of Wednesday’s final.
Amorim said: “The focus is the last game. I don’t know what is going to happen. We have a plan, we were prepared for both situations – with Champions League and without Champions League. We have an idea of the type of squad we want but now we focus on the game because we still have the last game and we have time to address all these situations.”