Ruben Amorim makes worrying 'survival' admission after Man Utd fall to Wolves | OneFootball

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has confessed the players need to focus on "surviving", rather than qualifying for European football.

Boxing Day saw United fall to a crushing 2-0 defeat at the hands of relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers, leaving them 14th in the Premier League table and closer to the drop zone than the top four.

After the game, Amorim was asked whether United can still dream of European football, but the new head coach, who warned fans a "storm" would be coming soon, insisted the squad are simply in a fight for their lives at this point.

"We have to work on a lot of things in our club, inside the pitch, outside the pitch, so let's focus on each game, each time," he responded. "We have to use every minute of training and to improve the team.

"I manage [the squad] but I didn't train [the players]. They need time to train, they are completely changing the way of playing, it is really hard on them and for the staff to pass on all the information. When you don't have results, it's even harder for them to believe.

"In this moment we just have to survive and to win some time to work on the team. We already knew it. I started this job, with the team, the new idea, without any time to train, with a lot of tough games. It is a long journey. We have to continue to fight these bad moments. We need time to work. We also have to win games to sell the idea to the players. If not, it is really hard."

A tough day for United / Naomi Baker/GettyImages

Amorim went on to admit he has "no idea" how long it will take to get through to the United squad, simply pleading for patience from fans.

"The idea needs time," he stressed. "I said it before to you guys that this will be a tough moment and we are far from the end of this moment and that's it. We have to continue and focus on the next game.

"I have no idea [how long this will take]. No idea. Instead of me trying to understand how much time it will take, just day by day. Improving, trying to see the videos, using every minute of training and try to win some points because it's really important in this moment."