Ruben Amorim does not believe he will get as much time at Manchester United to turn things around as Mikel Arteta was given to revive Arsenal’s fortunes.
Amorim has struggled since succeeding Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford in November.
The Red Devils languish 14th in the Premier League and are out of both domestic cup competitions.
The Europa League is the only remaining route to silverware and, realistically, continental qualification for a threadbare side preparing to take on an Arsenal team second in the Premier League and buoyed by a 7-1 Champions League last-16 win at PSV Eindhoven.
Arteta has made the Gunners a force again, with some eye-catching decisions as he reshaped the squad after being appointed in late 2019, including getting rid of senior players.
Arsenal, on course for a third straight second-place finish in the Premier League, are away to United on Sunday.
Asked if he saw similarities between Arteta’s position and his job at United, Amorim said (via AFP): “I don’t feel that. I will not have the time that Arteta had. I feel that. It’s a different club.
“So, we just need to survive with the players on Sunday and during these games.
“I think it’s a different club. I think in that aspect, the way Arteta dealt with that is an inspiration for everybody. I will not have the time like Arteta had.”
United secured a 1-1 draw away to Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.
They were without 11 first-team players in Spain, where the lack of options in their 18-man travelling squad and recent exertions took their toll.
“We need to survive Sunday,” Amorim said. “The team was so tired in the last 20 minutes. We have to prepare Sunday and then think about this important game for our season on Thursday (the return leg against Real Sociedad).”
Amorim does not expect any of his injured players to be fit in time to face Arsenal, with Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte this week joining the lengthy casualty list at Old Trafford.
Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw remain out, as do Jonny Evans, Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton, while Patrick Dorgu is suspended.
A protest against United’s US owners the Glazers is planned around the game by the 1958 fan group.
“I think for everybody in our club it’s a really tough moment,” Amorim said. “It’s everything at the same time. The only thing I can do, and our players can do, is perform well and win.
“People have the right to protest. I think it’s a good thing to do that. It’s part of our club. Everybody has a voice.
“But our job and my job is just to improve the team and give them something in this moment because they deserve it and they are amazing.”
Volgens voormalig Arsenal-speler Luis Boa Morte heeft Mikel Arteta niet genoeg tijd gehad om dingen om te draaien bij de club. De Portugese voetballer, die momenteel assistent-trainer is bij Everton, gelooft dat Arteta meer tijd en geduld nodig heeft om zijn visie voor Arsenal te realiseren.
Arteta werd aangesteld als hoofdtrainer van Arsenal in december 2019 en heeft sindsdien te maken gehad met wisselende resultaten. Ondanks het winnen van de FA Cup in zijn eerste seizoen, heeft de Spanjaard moeite gehad om consistentie te vinden in de Premier League.
Boa Morte, die tussen 1997 en 2007 bij Arsenal speelde, benadrukt dat het belangrijk is om geduld te hebben met Arteta en hem de tijd te geven om zijn filosofie te implementeren. Hij gelooft dat de Spanjaard de juiste man is voor de job en dat hij de steun van het bestuur en de fans nodig heeft om succesvol te zijn.
De voormalige Arsenal-speler wijst erop dat Arteta te maken heeft gehad met een aantal uitdagingen, waaronder blessures, inconsistentie in de prestaties van spelers en een gebrek aan ervaring in zijn team. Ondanks deze obstakels gelooft Boa Morte dat Arteta de kwaliteiten heeft om Arsenal weer naar de top te brengen.
Boa Morte roept op tot geduld en vertrouwen in Arteta, en benadrukt dat het belangrijk is om hem de tijd te geven om zijn visie voor Arsenal te realiseren. Hij gelooft dat met de juiste steun en toewijding, Arteta in staat zal zijn om de club weer succesvol te maken en fans trots te maken.
