Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has challenged his players to change the perceptions of them following criticism this week from co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

United are on course for the club’s worst season since relegation from the top flight in 1974 and Ratcliffe took aim at underperforming players during a round of media interviews this week.

“It takes time for us to move away from the past into a new place in the future,” Ratcliffe said. “Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time. We’ve got this period of transformation where we move from the past to the future.”

The billionaire made those comments immediately after specifically namedropping Antony, Casemiro, Andre Onana, Rasmus Hojlund and Jadon Sancho, shocking fans with his bluntness.

Casemiro, Onana and Hojlund remain part of the current squad, with Antony and Sancho loaned out.

“Whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out,” he said.

Ratcliffe’s words were unsurprisingly put to Amorim when he faced journalists at a press conference ahead of this week’s Europa League clash with Real Sociedad.

“I think if we are being honest, in this moment, everybody – me, all the players – is underperforming. So we can always change that. I include myself in that part of underperforming,” Amorim replied.

“You are talking about players like Casemiro, for example, that won everything and we know that these kind of players can play so much better. So that is the focus. [Ratcliffe] was honest in that. The focus is to change his mind and to change all the people’s minds.”

“If you are a top player and play in this football club, and even me – a lot of people say I am not good enough for the club – and my feeling is you can change that with results. In training, I feel they want that really bad, especially [against Real Sociedad].”

Ratcliffe’s interviews also included sharing his admiration for Amorim, who has undeniably inherited a difficult situation since leaving Sporting CP for United in November.

The Portuguese admitted his relationship with the club chief has been “really good since day one”.

He explained: “I think we are really blunt and honest with each other. It’s a little bit the character. We are quite similar in that way, so I always felt the support of the board and especially from Sir Jim. I cannot tell you the conversations, but they are simple, clear and honest conversations.”