RUBEN AMORIM has dismissed Gary Neville’s claim that a top-six finish is “healthy” for Manchester United, saying true success is only measured by winning the Premier League.
The under-pressure United boss didn’t hold back when asked about his side’s targets this season, saying that scraping into Europe isn’t something the Red Devils should ever celebrate.
Amorim told Sky Sports: “I don’t like to call success going to Europe with this club.
“This club’s success is to win the Premier League,nothing less.”
United haven’t lifted the league trophy since Sir Alex Ferguson bowed out in 2013 and the years since have been marked by chaos, sackings and lowered expectations.
The Portuguese coach, whose side finished 15th last season, knows a return to Europe would be seen as progress.
But he’s made it clear he won’t be patting himself on the back for finishing sixth.
He said: “I’m not going to call success going to Europe or finishing top eight or top six. That is not success.
“We need to have success in steps but success at this club is to win the Premier League. We have to be honest with our fans, we’re not in that moment right now.”
Former United captain Neville sparked debate earlier this year when he suggested a top-six finish would be a “healthy” outcome, given the team’s current state.
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But Amorim’s comments show he’s not interested in adjusting expectations to match the club’s recent decline, even if the Premier League’s big guns have pulled further away.
United have finished second just twice in over a decade and are now staring down the barrel of a third straight season outside the top four.
While Champions League qualification would be seen by many as a big result this season, Amorim clearly isn’t settling.
Neville, who once regularly tipped his former side for the top four, recently admitted the current reality might be a little more grim.
Speaking earlier this season, he said: “I think they’ll be looking at Champions League.
“I think that’ll be the ambition. But I think we’ve gone past the point where we say Manchester United have to win the league, I think that’s unrealistic.
“I think top six would be healthy. My feeling is probably between seventh and eighth is where I’m looking at it now.”
Amorim’s message is clear, United might be in a rebuild but the standards must stay sky-high.
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