Ruben Amorim says Manchester United are “a massive club, but not a massive team”

New head coach Ruben Amorim has acknowledged that while Manchester United are “a massive club,” they are “not a massive team” as he seeks to lead them back to the top of English football.

Despite some improvement since Erik ten Hag’s sacking on 28 October, United suffered a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal on Wednesday. This, combined with other results, has only seen the team rise one spot to 13th in the Premier League since Ten Hag’s departure.

Amorim admitted that his side were second best at Arsenal and called the match a “reality check.” “That is very clear,” he said. “We are a massive club but we are not a massive team. We know it, so there is no problem to say it.”

However, Amorim emphasized that the club’s storied history means that their targets should not be reset. “We’re not one of the best teams in the league,” he said. “We have to say and think that clearly. “But [in] our past, our club is maybe the best one in the league. So here we have a problem. We have to focus on the little details, then we will improve as a team.”

Amorim, who took over as United boss on 11 November, said one of his primary goals is to instill a strong work ethic in his players. In recent years, United have faced criticism for a lack of effort, which has contributed to a turbulent period with multiple managerial changes.

The issue Amorim faces now is the number of games his team is playing. Since taking charge, United have played 11 games in just 37 days, while his previous club, Sporting, have only seven games in the same span. This grueling schedule has made it difficult to develop fitness and cohesion.

Amorim also highlighted that, without the proper work rate, even the best team will fail. “If we want to win the Premier League, we have to run like mad dogs,” he said. “Even with the best starting XI on the planet, without running they will win nothing.”