LONDON – Ruben Amorim says Manchester United will “fight” for victory in the December 15 clash against Manchester City, as they attempt to turn around their own shocking form in the Premier League.

The Portuguese is preparing for his first derby since arriving at Old Trafford last month – with both teams in desperate need of a win.

United, 13th in the table before the weekend’s matches, have won just once in four league matches since Amorim joined the club.

Pep Guardiola’s City have only one victory in 10 games in all competitions but are still eight points ahead of their rivals in the English elite.

United were buoyed by the 2-1 Europa League win on December 12 against Viktoria Plzen, but they desperately need to regain their league form – they have their lowest points total after 15 matches since 1986.

“I always look forward to coaching Manchester United, especially in the derby, but we have so many things to focus on,” United manager Amorim told MUTV.

“We are focused on improving day by day and we want to see different things.

“I think we did a good job in the first half against Arsenal (in an eventual 2-0 defeat), so we have that ability, we have players to do it, and we will try to do it again and try to win the game.

The former Sporting Lisbon manager said it was vital to create a winning culture following United’s midweek Europa League victory, in which they recovered from a goal down with two strikes by Rasmus Hojlund.

“We don’t get carried away with winning – we should win this type of game we had on Thursday – so now we’re going into another game we need to win,” he said.

“We lost the other two in the Premier League (Arsenal and Nottingham Forest). We have to have this feeling of winning these kinds of matches, and we will be ready.

“Of course we know we have a lot to improve. A lot of things are changing here but we will fight for the match.

United have had a torrid time at the Etihad Stadium in recent years, losing 4-1, 6-3 and 3-1 after their last victory there in March 2021.

Guardiola is in the midst of his most difficult period since taking charge in 2016, but Amorim said he will not be distracted by City’s problems.

“I have huge respect for Manchester City but I only focus on Manchester United,” said the Portuguese, who inflicted a 4-1 defeat on City last month in his penultimate match as manager of Sporting.

“We have so much to do here, in my mind only (this) exists.

“Of course we have to have a strategy, we have to understand the opponent, but I only focus on Manchester United. We just want to get better and win games. AFP

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