Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim delivered a blunt assessment of his squad’s readiness following a record-breaking 16th Premier League defeat of the season, declaring his team is “not ready” to compete at the highest level in both domestic and European competitions.
Speaking after Sunday’s dramatic 4-3 loss to Brentford, Amorim didn’t hold back:
“We are not ready to play in the Premier League, be competitive, and to be in the Champions League,” he told Sky Sports. “We know that, but we need to win and fight to give our fans something—and to qualify for the Champions League.”
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The defeat extended United’s worst-ever loss tally in the Premier League era, surpassing the previous record of 14. Not since the 1973/74 relegation campaign have the Red Devils suffered more defeats in a single league season.
Despite the grim record, United remain firmly in contention for European silverware. A 3-0 first-leg win over Athletic Club in the Europa League semi-finals has them poised for a place in the final—likely against fellow strugglers Tottenham—offering a potential backdoor route to next season’s Champions League.
But Amorim called this a “real dilemma.”
“If we qualify, we’ll have to improve quickly. We’ll need time to build a team that can handle both competitions. But of course, we want to win—it’s our duty.”
With an eye on Europe, Amorim fielded the youngest starting XI in United’s Premier League history against Brentford, resting key players for Thursday’s second leg at Old Trafford. While the youthful lineup fell short, Amorim praised their resilience.
“I think they did really well,” he said. “They haven’t played much, but they gave everything. We needed to protect others for Thursday.”
Among the debutants was 17-year-old striker Chido Obi, who became the youngest player to start a Premier League match for the club.
“Chido fought all game,” Amorim noted. “But he’s still naive in some moments, especially in how he uses his body. He’ll learn—that’s part of his development.”
As United continue juggling their domestic struggles with European aspirations, Amorim’s message is clear: short-term ambition must be matched with long-term preparation.
