Amorim plays down Ratcliffe backing, says United need results

VIDEO SHOWS: PRESS CONFERENCE COMMENTS FROM MANCHESTER UNITED HEAD COACH, RUBEN AMORIM, AHEAD OF PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AWAY TO LIVERPOOL RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SHOTLIST SHOWS: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (OCTOBER 17, 2025) (MUTV – Must courtesy "MUTV". No resales. No monetisation.) 1. MANCHESTER UNITED HEAD COACH, RUBEN AMORIM, SITTING DOWN AT PRESS CONFERENCE 2. WHITE FLASH 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED HEAD COACH, RUBEN AMORIM, ON SUPPORTIVE COMMENTS FROM CLUB OWNER, JIM RATCLIFFE, DURING THE INTERNATIONAL BREAK, SAYING: "He tells me all the time. Sometimes with a message after games. But, you know, I know, and Jim knows that football is not like that. So, the most important thing is the next game. You cannot control – even with owners – you cannot control the next day in football. So, I know that. But it’s really good to hear that. Also because of the noise. But he tells me and Omar (Berrada) and Jason (Wilcox) tell me that all the time." 4. WHITE FLASH 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED HEAD COACH, RUBEN AMORIM, ON SUPPORTIVE COMMENTS FROM CLUB OWNER, JIM RATCLIFFE, DURING THE INTERNATIONAL BREAK, SAYING: "It’s really good to hear that. I think it helps also our fans to understand that the leadership… understand that it's going to take a while. But at the same moment, I don't like that because it will give a feeling that we have time to work things out. So, I don't want that feeling here in our club. Again, the most important thing is the next game. It’s good to feel the support, but we need to prove in football and especially in the big clubs that every weekend we are ready to win games." 6. WHITE FLASH 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED HEAD COACH, RUBEN AMORIM, ON WHETHER HIS SIDE PLAY UP OR DOWN TO THEIR OPPOSITION, SAYING: "Maybe – I don't know – but maybe the expectations. When you have to win and the respons(ability) of winning, it's so much harder to play like that. That's why when you play in big clubs, you need to win every match, especially when people are expecting you to win. And we have some difficulties sometimes to deal with that. When people and you guys expect not Manchester United to win that game, maybe (it’s) easier for the players to perform and we need to change that. But to change that, we need to have confidence to win more games, to have more points, to feel more free to play the game. So, I think that is the main reason." 8. WHITE FLASH 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED HEAD COACH, RUBEN AMORIM, ON WHETHER IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DROP SENNE LAMMENS FROM THE STARTING GOALKEEPER POSITION, SAYING: "Impossible, nothing is impossible. You have to prove during the week. But, of course, he did a great job. It is possible that he is going to start the game. The first impression in this club is really important. To maintain the level is even more important and really difficult. So, he's not (Peter) Schmeichel… yet. He is a young guy with talent. He shows a lot of composure and the fans like it." STORY: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim welcomed the backing of co-owner Jim Ratcliffe on Friday (October 17) but said it did not ease the pressure of needing to turn around his side's fortunes quickly. Ratcliffe said during the international break that Amorim should be allowed the full three years of his contract to prove himself at Old Trafford despite a tough first year in charge. Amorim has never won back-to-back Premier League games and has only 10 wins from his first 34 in charge ahead of Sunday's clash against champions Liverpool at Anfield. That record has left him under pressure but Ratcliffe, who appointed him last year, offered some reassurance in an interview with The Times last week. "He tells me all the time, sometimes with a message after games — but you know, I know and Jim knows, that football is not like that," Amorim said in his news conference on Friday. "It is really good to hear that, I think it helps our fans understand that the leadership knows it will take a while. "But, at the same moment, I don't like that because it will give a feeling like we have time to work things out so I don't want that feeling in our club. It's good to feel the support but we need to show people we are ready to win games. I know it is going to take a while but I don't want to think like that." United are in 10th place in the table, five points behind Liverpool who have slipped to second after back-to-back Premier League defeats away to Crystal Palace and Chelsea. A 2-2 draw at Liverpool last season was arguably Amorim's most impressive result since taking charge and there have been other creditable performances against top clubs but the former Sporting coach says that exposes a mentality issue. "Maybe the expectations, when you have to win and the responsibility of winning it is so much harder," he said. "When you play in big clubs, you need to win every game. We have difficulties sometimes to play with that responsibility. Maybe when Manchester United are not expected to win, it is easier for the players to perform but we need to change that." Few will expect them to win at Anfield on Sunday for the first time since 2016 in what is the 100th clash between the old rivals at Liverpool's ground, even if Liverpool are on a run of three defeats in all competitions. Lisandro Martinez is not yet ready to return as he recovers from a knee injury while Noussair Mazraoui is doubtful. (Production: Conal Quinn)

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