Bryan Robson believes that Ruben Amorim needs three years to achieve what he wants to achieve as Manchester United manager – and that the club have the quality qualify for Europe this season.
Speaking at the Northwest Football Awards, where Robson was presented with the Lifetime Contribution Award in recognition of his services to football, both as a player and manager, the former United and England skipper said: ‘I was a manager myself and I always felt that as a manager, you need three years to actually get a settled team for what you want to achieve.
‘It’s very early for him and we’ve made some really good signings. I can see us developing that little bit better and the club have got to give him that time. The fans have been really patient and it is just about the players playing the best football they can and supporting the manager.’
Last month, United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said he wanted to give Amorim three years to prove himself. In a Premier League table since the Portuguese manager took over from Erik ten Hag, United would be 14th with 43 points from 36 games. Amorim’s side are eighth this season and have won three of their last four games.
‘We’re going OK – it’s a bit of an improvement from last year,’ said Robson. ‘But I’d still like to see us get a bit more solid and not concede so many goals if we want to get up there.
‘We have the quality and the ability now – especially with the new signings – to be able to go on and get into Europe and hopefully have an even better time by getting into the Champions League,’ the 68-year-old added.
Former Man United captain Bryan Robson credited the team’s ‘improvement’ from last season
‘You need three years to actually get a settled team for what you want to achieve,’ Robson said
Robson, who is the longest-serving captain in the club’s history, backed the current leader Bruno Fernandes to come good too after a relatively slow start to the season.
‘When you’re playing well, everybody is happy and nobody mentions anything. If you get off to a slow start, which Bruno has this season, people always want to criticise,’ said Robson.
‘Bruno is a quality player and he is brilliant around the club. He is very humble, greets everyone and has good camaraderie with people. People say he doesn’t crunch into tackles but not all players can do that. Some players are tacklers and some players are playmakers, which Bruno is.’
Asked what he wishes he could change in modern football, Robson suggested though that the art of tackling is dying compared to his time as a footballer.
‘The rules and regulations have stopped what the fans really want to see. You want to see great ability but tackling is an art,’ he said.
‘Skilful players have to express themselves and be great but for 50/50s, don’t start booting players and sending them off for that sort of thing. That’s part of the game and that’s what the fans want to see – a bit of passion for your club.’
