LONDON – While Manchester United have little time to prepare for Ruben Amorim’s first English Premier League game at Old Trafford, the new boss insisted there will be “no excuses” if his team do not beat Everton on Dec 1.

While their opponents have had a full week to prepare since their 0-0 draw with Brentford last weekend, United were in action in midweek in a breathless 3-2 Europa League win over Bodo/Glimt, their second game in five days.

“It is what it is,” Amorim said of the challenging schedule.

“We will rotate players and we will be ready. Against Bodo/Glimt we have to use four subs to manage the fitness, not the game. We manage the fitness.

“We already know that it will be like that so no excuse. We should be ready for Sunday and we have to win.”

The Red Devils drew 1-1 at Ipswich Town on Amorim’s debut with the club last week, and they will next face another team battling relegation in Sean Dyche’s Everton.

Asked what he expects against the Toffees, the United boss added: “Win. I am hoping to win. It is going to be a different match with a lot of fighting, long balls, second balls.

“They have a quality coach who understands the league. We need to have the ball. I hope for a win and see different things in my team, improve like we did from Ipswich to now, with Everton, without training.

“I expect to see different things and better things.”

The Portuguese was known for maintaining high fitness standards in his previous job at Sporting Lisbon and said he would like to see United fitter. His mid-season arrival, he acknowledged however, makes for a more difficult challenge.

But one player who has impressed Amorim so far is his compatriot Diogo Dalot.

“He is a great player,” he said in singling out the defender. “He can play both sides, which is perfect.”

He also said that he “believes a lot” in Mason Mount and that the former Chelsea midfielder is desperate to succeed at United after an injury-blighted career at Old Trafford so far.

Mount, 25, joined United in July 2023 but has played just 28 times for the club, scoring a solitary goal.

On Nov 28, the England international made his first start since August, playing nearly an hour in United’s win against Bodo/Glimt.

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