'Twenty times' - but now Manchester United must exit 'Ice Age'

After Manchester United's draw at Bournemouth, their fans began singing.

"Twenty times, 20 times, Man United. Twenty times, 20 times, I say. Twenty times, 20 times, Man United, playing football the Matt Busby way."

This song has brought pride since their last championship in 2013.

On Sunday, it felt especially meaningful.

At that moment, fans didn’t know Liverpool would be crowned champions later. They sensed their rivals would soon match their record of titles.

Rasmus Hojlund's injury-time equaliser saved them from another defeat. The match ended in a 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium. However, the reality of their situation remains clear.

"It matters," said Adam Bell, a long-time fan since 1973-74.

"It was important for us to reach 20 titles. Now Liverpool is catching up and likely to surpass us."

His friend Andrew Harris agreed with him.

"This happens in cycles at Manchester United," he noted.

"We had the Busby Babes and the successful teams of 1968. Then we struggled in the '70s and '80s until Fergie came along. Now we are in another Ice Age."

After several managers tried to revive the club, it's now Ruben Amorim's turn.

His results since taking over for Ten Hag have been inconsistent.

The draw against Bournemouth means United has only two points from five games. They moved up one place to 14th but face their worst finish since relegation over fifty years ago.

Amorim understands Old Trafford's history well and answers questions directly.

He stated that Liverpool’s achievements do not concern him; his focus is on Manchester United.

"We must focus on ourselves," he said honestly. "We are currently on different levels than Liverpool."

He recalled how things can change quickly in football history.

Amorim emphasized not thinking too far ahead about goals.

"Our ultimate goal is winning the Premier League," he explained. "I know it won't happen next year but we're building something important."

He acknowledged that improvement is necessary for next season.

Many fans support Amorim but doubt a Europa League triumph this season is realistic.

In an ordinary season, facing Athletic Bilbao would be tough for any team. Ferguson’s squad lost to them in a previous Europa League tie when Andoni Iraola played for Bilbao and now manages Bournemouth.

This season brings hope rather than expectation among fans regarding success against Bilbao.

Winning the final there could secure Champions League riches and restore European competition for United next season.

"I hope this rebuilding project works but it will take time," Bell said. "Even winning the Europa League feels like a long shot."

"I like Amorim and feel positive about him," he added. "But patience is essential; building a successful team takes time."

Ferguson needed three and three-quarter seasons before winning his first trophy that changed everything for United. The similarities between then and now are striking given their league positions today.

Back then there was no social media or constant news coverage discussing poor results endlessly online.

Bell believes Amorim will need "two to three years" to succeed as manager while his friend thinks it might take ten years instead due to ongoing challenges within the club structure.