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United's manager Amorim thinks it is important the co-owner openly discussed his extended perspective - but notes nothing is assured about tomorrow in football, never mind three seasons.

In an interview with a leading newspaper recently, the co-owner stated it might require the manager a three-year period to create substantial change at the Theatre of Dreams.

Coming in a period when the manager's position has been under scrutiny following an extended sequence of poor performances, the statements assisted in calming certain present tensions.

But, speaking before the centenary clash with historic adversaries the Merseyside club at Anfield, the United boss stressed that tomorrow is difficult to forecast in football.

"It is really good to listen to that but he tells me all the time, periodically with words following matches - but you know, I'm aware and the co-owner recognizes, that soccer doesn't work that way," he stated.

"The most important thing is the next game. Regardless of investors, you cannot manage the future in the sport."

Chief executive Omar Berrada has acknowledged it has needed far longer for Amorim to adapt to the Premier League after his transfer from Sporting last November than anyone imagined.

United have won 10 times in 34 top-flight fixtures with the Portuguese coach. They still haven't achieved back-to-back league wins and haven't finished a round of league games during this campaign higher than ninth.

The worrying figures are testing faith in the manager among the Red Devils supporters heading into a stretch of fixtures the side has performed poorly in for the previous two campaigns.

Amorim said he does not feel the doubt within the organization at the club's Carrington training ground and is insistent nothing equals the expectation he places on the team - and to some extent, he would prefer the co-owner to avoid attempting to create tranquility because he worries the impact it could have on the team.

"It's not just an item of conversation, I feel it each day," he stated. "It's truly positive to receive it because it helps our fans to grasp the management know it is going to take some time.

"Yet concurrently, I dislike it because it generates a sense that we own time to solve problems. I don't wish for that sense in our organization.

"The stress I put on the team or on myself is so much bigger [than that from outside]. In soccer, particularly at major teams, you must demonstrate yourself each weekend."

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• Manchester United
• Premier League
• Football