Ruben Amorim says the “storm will come” for his Manchester United team as he refuses to be carried away by an unbeaten start.
United began a tricky run of nine games in December by thrashing Everton 4-0 at Old Trafford.
They travel to second-placed Arsenal on Wednesday – a game described by new head coach Amorim as “by far” his biggest challenge so far.
The Red Devils will contest important matches in the Premier League, Europa League and Carabao Cup by the end of the year, with tough trips to Manchester City and Tottenham included in that run.
But United head to Emirates Stadium with confidence, having gone unbeaten in seven games since the sacking of Erik ten Hag – four of those under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy and three with Amorim.
“We are going to have difficult moments and we will be found out in some games, I know that,” said Amorim.
“I know it is really hard to be a Manchester United coach and say these things in press conferences – and we want to win all the time, no matter what – but we know we are in a different point compared to Arsenal.
“I would like to say different things, but I have to say again, the storm will come.”
Arteta doing ‘an amazing job’
Arsenal failed to win any of their first three games in November but seem to be returning to form, scoring 10 goals across two matches.
They followed a 5-1 thumping of Amorim’s former side Sporting in the Champions League with a 5-2 victory at West Ham on Saturday.
United’s Portuguese boss came up against Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta in last season’s Europa League, and his side got the better of the Gunners on penalties to reach the quarter-finals.
Arsenal won the FA Cup in Arteta’s first season at the helm in 2019-20 and have finished runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League for the last two campaigns, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and William Saliba forming the core of the side.
Amorim was full of praise for the work done by Arteta, who rode out a rocky spell while building his team, and highlighted the importance of sticking by such a coach in the tough times.
“[He has done] an amazing job,” said Amorim. “Sometimes coaches are judged just with titles, but what he has been doing with Arsenal is amazing.
“He transformed the team, he bought some youngsters that are now a big talent in this country. I hope to have the same mindset that he had in difficult moments because I followed the Premier League for a long time and it is a very good characteristic in Mikel. He is doing a great job.”
Asked how important United’s faith in him has been, Amorim said: “That is always important for a coach, to have that confidence.
“We have to acknowledge that Manchester United is a little bit different, all the attentions you guys [journalists] put here all the time, we will try to do things a bit faster.
“There is massive attention here and massive judgement every day.”
