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The Red Devils' boss the Portuguese coach feels it's significant the investor went public with his future vision - but says nothing is certain about tomorrow in football, much less three full years.

Through a conversation with The Times in recent days, Sir Jim said it could take the manager three years to produce meaningful results at the Theatre of Dreams.

Emerging in an era when the manager's position has been receiving close inspection after a prolonged run of disappointing results, the words contributed to reducing some of the immediate pressure.

Yet, discussing prior to the 100th meeting with old rivals the Reds at the famous stadium, the United boss stressed that the future is hard to predict in the beautiful game.

"It is really good to listen to that but he tells me continuously, sometimes with a message after games - but understand, I'm aware and Ratcliffe understands, that football is not like that," he commented.

"The vital factor is the upcoming match. Despite having backers, you cannot manage tomorrow in soccer."

Chief executive the club executive has acknowledged it has needed significantly extended periods for the manager to adapt to the English top flight after his transfer from Sporting Lisbon last November than anyone imagined.

Manchester United have achieved 10 times in 34 Premier League matches with the Portuguese coach. They still haven't achieved two league games in a row and didn't complete a round of league games during this campaign better than ninth place.

The concerning numbers are testing faith in Amorim among the Old Trafford faithful approaching a run of games their club has been awful in for the last couple of years.

Amorim said he does not feel the uncertainty within the organization at the club's Carrington training ground and is insistent nothing can match the stress he puts on the squad - and in certain ways, he would choose Sir Jim to refrain from seeking to create tranquility because he fears the impact it could have on the team.

"It isn't merely an item of conversation, I feel it every day," he said. "It's really good to hear it because it benefits our followers to comprehend the leadership know it is going to take some time.

"Yet concurrently, I don't like it because it creates an impression that we possess time to work things out. I don't want that feeling in our team.

"The pressure I place on the team or on myself is considerably larger [versus outside influences]. In football, specifically at large organizations, you have to show yourself every matchday."

Related topics

• The Red Devils
• Premier League
• The beautiful game