Mansion Sports – Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has responded to the recent criticism made by Cristiano Ronaldo, emphasizing that the club must focus on the future rather than remain fixated on past mistakes—whether under his leadership or that of previous managers. 

Amorim also acknowledged the existence of a key issue that he believes “cannot continue to be ignored,” as it could hinder the team’s overall performance this season.

Ronaldo Highlights Manchester United’s Decline

In a recent interview with Piers Morgan, Cristiano Ronaldo voiced his disappointment over Manchester United’s ongoing decline, claiming that the club “lacks structure” and is “no longer on the right path.”

Although Ronaldo expressed his enduring affection for United, he admitted sadness over what he perceives as a dramatic drop in the club’s standards. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner remarked that Amorim “cannot perform miracles” given the current circumstances and suggested that some players “lack the mentality required” for a club of Manchester United’s stature.

His comments come nearly three years after his explosive 2022 interview with Morgan, which ultimately led to his departure from Old Trafford.

Ronaldo stated, “You must follow intelligent and wise people to build a foundation for the future, just as Manchester United once did. Nicky Butt, Gary Neville, Roy Keane, David Beckham—they all became great players, but it started from their youth. Right now, Manchester United lacks structure. I hope that changes in the future, because this club has enormous potential. It remains one of the most significant clubs of this century.”

He added, “He (Amorim) is doing his best. But what can you expect? Miracles? Miracles are impossible. In Portugal, we often say that miracles only happen in Fatima, and he won’t be able to make one.”

The “Miracle of Fatima” refers to a famous 1917 event in Portugal, during which witnesses claimed to see the sun appear to dance, spin, and descend toward the earth.

Amorim: “Let’s Move Forward and Leave the Past Behind”

Responding to Ronaldo’s remarks, Amorim stated, “Of course, he knows exactly what he’s saying, and he carries great influence with his words. What we must do now is focus on the future. We recognize that this club has made many mistakes in the past, but we are working to fix them. We cannot dwell on what has already happened; we must focus on what we are doing now. We are changing many aspects of the club’s structure, our working methods, and the behavior we expect from the players. We have begun that process and are making progress, so we need to keep moving forward and leave the past behind.”

Amorim Identifies the Main Problem to Be Fixed

Amorim continued, “I believe we can attack very well. Sometimes, when we defend better, our attacking game becomes more effective too. The real issue lies in how we defend inside the penalty box. In our last match, we struggled in that area because we allowed too many crosses without applying enough pressure.”

He added, “We’ve already addressed some of those small details we saw in the previous game. In the match before that, our opponents managed 17 shots, and that is something we cannot allow to happen again. This is an area we must change. We can continue attacking with the same intensity, even score more goals, but we have to defend much better.”

United Seek Revenge Against Tottenham

This weekend, Manchester United will face Tottenham Hotspur, marking the first meeting between the two teams since the Europa League Final in Bilbao last May, which Spurs won 1-0. Tottenham have displayed impressive form away from home this season but have struggled when playing at home. Amorim asserted that his side are now much stronger compared to when they suffered that defeat.

Amorim said, “The characteristics of our players are different now, though many of them were part of the team last season. We are a better side today—we play better, we understand the game more, and we’re more confident. At this moment, we are competing with a different mindset. We handle key moments in matches much more effectively. If you remember that final, they had only one real chance and scored from it. I hope this time will be different. We can play better, and with a bit of luck, we can win the match.”

He added, “I believe we are much more confident now. We are sure of our ability to win any game, and we have already shown that. The previous match was difficult for us because, at times, we didn’t play like the team we are capable of being. Compared to the match against Brighton, our performance level has clearly improved.”