Red Devils Boss Vows to Keep Fighting for League Glory as Fulham Celebrate Penalty Triumph
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has reaffirmed his commitment to restoring the club to the pinnacle of English football, despite a crushing FA Cup exit at the hands of Fulham. The Red Devils were knocked out of the competition they were defending in a dramatic penalty shootout at Old Trafford, but Amorim insists the ultimate goal remains unchanged: winning the Premier League title.
United’s hopes of retaining the FA Cup were dashed in the fifth round as Fulham held their nerve to secure a 5-3 victory on penalties after a hard-fought 1-1 draw. Goalkeeper Bernd Leno emerged as the hero for the visitors, saving two spot-kicks to send his team through to a sixth-round clash against Crystal Palace. For Fulham, the win keeps alive their dream of reaching a first FA Cup final in 50 years.
Amorim, visibly disappointed after the match, admitted the loss was a setback but remained resolute in his long-term vision for the club. Speaking to BBC Sport, he said, “The goal is to win the Premier League. I know that we are losing games, but the goal is to win the Premier League again. I don’t know how long it will take, but we have a goal, and we continue forward no matter what.”
The Portuguese manager, who took charge of United earlier this season, acknowledged the challenges ahead. The club has not won the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season in 2013, and the last decade has been marked by inconsistency and underachievement. Despite occasional successes in domestic and European cup competitions, United have failed to mount a sustained title challenge in recent years.
Amorim’s comments drew criticism from former United striker Wayne Rooney, who labeled the manager’s ambitions as “naive” given the team’s current struggles. United sit 14th in the Premier League table, far from the heights they once dominated. However, Amorim was quick to defend his stance in a post-match press conference. “I am not naive. That is why I am here at 40 years old, coaching Manchester United,” he fired back.
Meanwhile, Fulham manager Marco Silva praised his team’s performance, describing the victory as fully deserved. “They had chances, like we had as well,” Silva said. “But overall, I really believe we deserve to be in the next stage.” Goalkeeper Leno, who played a pivotal role in the shootout, expressed his delight at the result and the prospect of a Wembley final. “Unbelievable. We deserved to win after 90 minutes,” Leno said. “Penalties can be a lottery, but luckily we won. We want to go to Wembley, 100%.”
As Fulham prepare for their sixth-round tie against Crystal Palace, Manchester United must regroup and refocus on their Premier League campaign. For Amorim and his players, the road ahead is steep, but the dream of reclaiming their place at the top of English football remains alive.
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