'TITLE TILT POSSIBLE SOON'

Amorim believes United can be EPL contenders 'in the next few years'

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Ruben Amorim believes Manchester United can win the English Premier League far sooner than the 10 or Il years that Alex Ferguson fears it could take.

The Red Devils have failed to add to their 20 English league titles since the Scot bowed out as a champion in 2013. The 83-year-old recently told Press Box PR that he felt United are now “in the same situation” as Liverpool were when they went 30 years without winning the title.

The club great said it could be “10 years, 11 years” until the Premier League trophy returns to Old Trafford, but Amorim is confident it will not take that long.

“He understands football more than me, especially English football,” the current United boss said on Dec 19.

“But I think we are not (going to take that) long to win a league. And I don’t know which manager is going to be here. I truly believe that we can fight for the title in the next (few) years. And I think it’s not going to take so many years.”

United were sixth heading into the weekend, ahead of their match at third-placed Aston Villa on Dec 21 after an inconsistent season so far - with two wins, four draws and one defeat in their last seven games.

Amorim was also asked at his pre-match press conference for his reaction to comments made by Bruno Fernandes to the Portuguese media, in which the club captain said United had wanted to sell him in the summer.

Fernandes had said Amorim still had him in his plans, which convinced him to stay at Old Trafford, but the midfielder admitted he had been hurt by the stance of the club’s hierarchy.

Amorim said his Portuguese compatriot, who joined United in 2020, had “said what he’s feeling”.