Ruben Amorim hits back as Wayne Rooney slams ‘naive’ title claim immediately after FA Cup exit

Ruben Amorim has hit back at Wayne Rooney’s suggestion that the Manchester United boss is ‘naive’ to say they’re looking to win the Premier League.

The Red Devils failed to defend their FA Cup crown as they lost to Fulham on penalties in their fifth round tie.

Two penalty saves from Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno did the business for the visitors as he denied Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee from the spot.

The loss to Fulham continued United’s alarming demise this term, with the Europa League now the club’s only hope of securing a trophy.

However, Amorim refused to be overly downbeat about the result and instead boldly declared he hopes to return his team to Premier League glory, although he conceded it could take some time to do so.

“I try to relax the players and they know that it (penalty shootout) is something that is technical but you have to be relaxed and confident,” Amorim told the BBC.

“The goal is to win the Premier League. I know that we are losing games but the goal is to win the Premier League again.

“I don’t know how long it will take. We have a goal and we continue forward no matter what.

“It’s impossible to know but you start understanding the players are better and we understand the league. We’ll see in the future.

“It’s really important but we have to recover the players. They were really tired and we have three days and then here at Old Trafford against Arsenal.”

Given United’s bleak performances this season, fans were understandably scratching their heads at Amorim’s claim.

One fan on X wrote: “All you can do is laugh.”

Another posted: “Plz (sic) man, just stay quiet.”

One also said: “It can take forever if you keep on playing like this.”

An additional supporter wrote: “With this lot. No chance haha.”

Rooney felt the same, labelling Amorim ‘a little naive’ to make such a statement about restoring the club to the top of the Premier League in the wake of an embarrassing result.

Instead, Rooney believed the United boss needed to look at dragging the club up the table from 14th before considering future titles.

“I think he’ll get time (Amorim),” Rooney told the BBC.

“It’s not a free hit because he’ll expect more from Man Utd then what we’re seeing since he’s been in.

“It’s very difficult to come in during the season and have no pre-season, but he has to look to the future and moving forward.

“He says winning the Premier League, how can they compete? To get further up the table, I think that’s the next step for them.

“Managers aren’t getting that time over the last ten, 15 years. You have to be selfish as a manager and say ‘okay, if I don’t do it now I might not get that time.’

“I think it’s a little naive to say they’re looking to win the Premier League because from where they are now, they’re a long way off that.”

The comments by Rooney were put to Amorim during his post-match press conference as he was asked whether it was realistic to talk about winning the title.

Amorim responded: “That is the goal.

“Being naive is to think that we are going to do it this season or going to be the best contender for the next season.

“So, I know that in this moment everybody knows everything. I know that and it’s really easy – 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 it is 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 great glories and the legends of this club.

“We want to do better and we know that we are in a difficult moment. And I’m not naive. That’s why I’m here coaching at 40 years old Manchester United.”

United co-owner Ineos has set up ‘Mission 21’ to win a first Premier League crown since 2013 – a 21st English league title overall – with ‘Project 150’ outlining the ambition to do it by the club’s 150th anniversary in 2028.

But missing out on European football would dent those hopes, with United’s all-time top scorer Rooney questioning how attractive a move to Old Trafford is nowadays.

“You need to be in a stable position to bring the best players in,” Rooney said.

“And if I’m a player playing in a different country or in a different club and Manchester United come to try and sign me now, I’m looking thinking, ‘I’m not sure’.

“The top players want Champions League football and unfortunately that’s not where the club are at the minute.”

The former United star added: “They were in transition when I signed but a big reason I signed was Sir Alex Ferguson because you knew he’d get it right and he’d build up that team again. It’s hard to see that now.”

Amorim and his players must now shift attention to the Europa League, where they face Real Sociedad in the round of 16.

The Red Devils travel to San Sebastian for the first leg of the tie on Thursday.

Unfortunately for Amorim, the challenges won’t slow down as they welcome second-placed Arsenal to Old Trafford on Sunday.

Should United lose and results elsewhere go against them, they could drop as low as 16th after West Ham, who sit 15th, play Newcastle on Monday.

If that transpires, Amorim’s title dreams may be even further away than he first thought.