Wayne Rooney Criticizes Ruben Amorim’s ‘Naive’ Approach After Man United’s FA Cup Exit
Manchester United suffered a heartbreaking FA Cup elimination on Sunday night, losing 4-3 on penalties to Fulham at Old Trafford.
United legend Wayne Rooney has questioned the mindset of manager Ruben Amorim, suggesting that his long-term vision for winning the Premier League is unrealistic if immediate results and performances don’t improve.
The Red Devils appeared to be in control during extra time after Bruno Fernandes equalized Calvin Bassey’s opener in regulation. However, the match was ultimately decided in a penalty shootout, where Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee failed to convert their spot-kicks, allowing Bernd Leno to secure Fulham’s victory.
Speaking to BBC Sport after the match, Amorim remained optimistic, stating that winning the Premier League remains the ultimate goal and that setbacks in cup competitions are simply part of the journey. However, during his analysis on *Match of the Day*, Rooney argued that the Portuguese coach needs to shift his focus to more immediate objectives.
“It’s tough to come in mid-season without a proper pre-season to implement your ideas,” Rooney acknowledged. “But instead of looking too far ahead at winning the Premier League, he should first focus on pushing United further up the table. That’s the next realistic step for them.”
Rooney also pointed out the harsh reality of modern football, where managers are rarely given enough time to completely overhaul a team.
“Over the past 10 to 15 years, we’ve seen that managers don’t always get the luxury of time to rebuild,” he added. “You have to be a bit selfish as a manager and realize that if you don’t get results now, you might not be around long enough to see your long-term plan through.”
He concluded by calling Amorim’s title ambitions “a bit naive,” emphasizing that United still have a long way to go before they can realistically challenge for the Premier League crown.
Currently, United’s best chance of securing European football next season lies in the Europa League, though that won’t be an easy task. They face Real Sociedad in the Round of 16, with the first leg set to take place in Spain on Thursday, followed by the return fixture at Old Trafford the following week.
