Ruben: We're changing things at Carrington

In an interview with Premier League Productions to preview Sunday's home game with Arsenal, the head coach is seeing some signs of encouragement and will hope these will become more and more evident over time.

Speaking before the 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad in the Europa League round-of-16 first leg, he named Joshua Zirkzee and Bruno Fernandes as two players who are adapting well to the demands, and also revealed an increased level of confidence among the centre-backs is pleasing to witness.

Meanwhile, the Portuguese is also plotting for how things will look beyond this season, as he strives to bring success to Old Trafford.

"In terms of the results, it's bad," responded Amorim, when asked how things were going. "Also the performances are not improving a lot, to be honest.

"But the good thing is that we are learning a lot. We are changing a lot of things but you cannot see it. Here in Carrington, the way we want to do things. I'm understanding the players and doing, in my head, what is the future of the squad.

"And that can be really important next year, but there is also a risk, when you are planning and doing and thinking to the future, you have to pay attention to the present. And the present is really hard in the moment because the results and the performances are not there."

When asked if he could pinpoint positive aspects to what he is seeing, the boss went into specifics by explaining how the centre-backs are key to making his system work.

"In the small things in our game, I see improvement," he explained. "It's hard to see but I see it.

"I think we are improving in the last two games [before Real Sociedad], for example, the way we have possession. Our central defenders are playing in a different way, more confident.

"And, if they play well, our team will play better. I think some players are improving individually. Josh, I think is improving, in changing, a little bit, the position.

"We are trying to find a better space for Bruno but sometimes you want him, yes, everywhere as he's really important for us. 

"Even against Ipswich, we suffered a goal and we continued to play the same way and I feel, in these small details, I feel that the team believes a little bit more. The rest, I think, it's hard to see things in this season. It's more here in Carrington, the way we are training, the intensity, and we are trying to find a way to improve the team."