Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim has delivered a blunt message to his squad, insisting that the club must operate with a “no excuses” mentality amid rising pressure and a difficult start to the Premier League season.
United endured a disappointing first campaign under the Portuguese tactician and have struggled to find consistency this term. Although they briefly revived momentum with three consecutive wins, the team has since dropped crucial points in back-to-back 2–2 draws against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur — both matches in which United squandered leads.
Those frustrations were compounded on Monday when United suffered a 1–0 home defeat to 10-man Everton, a result that heightened scrutiny on Amorim ahead of Sunday’s Premier League fixture away to an in-form Crystal Palace side sitting sixth, four places above United.
“At Manchester United, There Are No Excuses”
Speaking ahead of the match, Amorim stressed that high expectations are part of the fabric of Manchester United — and that neither he nor his players can fall back on excuses.
“In our club it’s the same thing because last year we had to win every game all the time,” Amorim said. “We took a lot of things, a lot of criticism because we were not winning, so in our club there are no excuses.
“I said the same thing last year when we were in Europe and I said the same thing this year. Whether we have the advantage or disadvantage of not being in Europe, there are no excuses. Last year or this year, we always have to win games.”
United’s Position ‘Frustrating’, Says Amorim
Asked if he was disappointed to see United languishing in 10th place, Amorim admitted frustration, adding that the club should have collected more points.
“If I look at the games, we should have more points because we had control of some games, we had the advantage in some games, and we lost that control,” he said.
“That is really disappointing and really frustrating, especially the last game.”
United will again be without Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Šeško, and Harry Maguire, who remain sidelined for Sunday’s trip to Selhurst Park.
Facing a Resurgent Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace have undergone a remarkable transformation under manager Oliver Glasner, who guided the Eagles to a historic FA Cup triumph in May. Amorim is no stranger to Glasner’s tactical approach — the two previously faced each other in the Champions League while Amorim was in charge of Sporting CP and Glasner managed Eintracht Frankfurt.
“I played against him in Frankfurt with Sporting, so I know the style of play,” Amorim noted. “I take inspiration from everyone. When I have two weeks during an international break, I watch all the managers and take all the inspiration I can.”
With only six years of experience as a professional manager, Amorim said he is committed to continuous improvement: “I’m always trying to learn to improve my team.”
A Crucial Test for United
Sunday’s clash with Crystal Palace presents a critical opportunity for Manchester United to regain stability and close the growing gap with the top six. But as Amorim made clear, the club’s expectations remain unchanged — winning is the only acceptable standard.
