United slipped to a dismal 1-0 loss at home to Everton - who played the majority of the match with 10 men after Idrissa Gueye was dismissed for striking team-mate Michael Keane - on Monday (24.11.25) and the coach felt that the game was a stark reality check for his side.

Amorim said: "We are not there, not even near the point that we should be to fight for the best positions.

"We have a lot to do. We have to be perfect to win games, we were not perfect today.

"When we see the results of the weekend, we should get onto the pitch with a different excitement. Old Trafford was there saying, 'We are all here for a big step up.' And we were not ready.

"These five weeks, everyone is praising our evolution. But I'm always saying the same things: we are nowhere near the moment we are meant to be in this club."

Gueye's strange red card left Amorim wishing that he had seen similar aggression from his team.

The Portuguese manager said: "Fighting is not a bad thing. Fighting doesn't mean you don't like each other. Fighting means you lose the ball and I will fight you because we will suffer a goal. That was my feeling.

"I don't agree with that red card. We can fight with team-mates. I know it's violent conduct because the referee explained but I don't agree.

"I hope my players, when they lose the ball, they fight each other - though they cannot get sent off! But that is a good feeling, not a bad feeling."

Amorim expressed fear that United's performances could revert to how they were last season when they finished a woeful 15th in the Premier League.

He said: "I feel afraid of returning to this feeling of last season. That is my biggest concern. We need to work together. The players are trying but we need to be better."