Ruben Amorim is confident Manchester United will fight for victory in Sunday’s Manchester derby as he aims to reverse the club’s poor Premier League fortunes.
The Portuguese manager, preparing for his first derby since joining United last month, faces a crucial clash at the Etihad. Both teams are desperate for a win, with United sitting 13th in the table and Manchester City enduring a dismal run of one victory in their past 10 games across all competitions.
United’s Premier League form has been dire, with just one win in four league matches under Amorim and their lowest points tally after 15 games since 1986. However, Thursday’s 2-1 comeback victory over Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League has lifted spirits.
“We are focused on improving day by day and showing what we can do,” Amorim told MUTV. “We’ll fight for the game, and I believe we have the players to achieve a result.”
Despite City’s struggles, Amorim insists his focus remains solely on United. “I have a huge respect for Manchester City but I’m just focused on Manchester United. We have so much to do here, in my mind only (this) exists.”
Amorim’s side will look to end their poor record at the Etihad, where they’ve suffered heavy defeats in recent years, including a 6-3 loss last season. United’s last away win in the derby came in March 2021.
City manager Pep Guardiola is enduring his toughest spell since joining in 2016, but Amorim dismissed the idea of being distracted by their rival’s difficulties. Instead, he emphasised creating a winning mentality at United after their midweek European triumph.
The derby promises a fiery contest, with both clubs desperate for a turnaround in their respective campaigns.
