Manchester United is currently unprepared for European competition and needs more time to strengthen its foundation for the Champions League, said coach Ruben Amorim on Tuesday.
United finished 15th in the Premier League last season and missed qualifying for Europe after losing to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final in May.
“I feel we weren’t ready to play in Europe. To have strong performances in the Champions League and in the Premier League, we need time to develop as a team,” Amorim told reporters ahead of Wednesday’s League Cup second-round match against fourth-tier Grimsby Town.
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“The players need to compete for their spots, and then everything can change.”
This season, United has yet to secure a win in its first two Premier League games, suffering a 1-0 loss at home to Arsenal and drawing 1-1 with Fulham on Sunday.
Amorim cited a defensive approach as the reason for losing the lead against Fulham and emphasized the need for improvement.
“The matches are very competitive. We need time to establish our base and move forward. Eventually, we must compete in Europe for everyone to gain experience,” Amorim stated.
The coach also mentioned that defender Noussair Mazraoui, who was injured during pre-season, may return next week.
“He could be back next week; we’re finalizing drills with him to ensure he won’t face further issues,” he said.
Published on Aug 26, 2025