Ruben Amorim understands the need for urgency in his Manchester United project.

United remain on course for their worst Premier League finish after a 0-0 draw with Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday.

They sit 13th on 38 points, seven adrift of the top half with seven matches remaining.

Amorim's team do, however, have a Europa League quarter-final tie with Lyon coming up, with that trophy the only route to salvaging what has been a disappointing campaign.

And though Amorim has asked for patience as he looks to get United back to where they belong, the former Sporting CP boss is well aware that time is of the essence.

"I'm not naive or crazy, I can see the moment we are in, I can look at the opponents and understand there is a big gap, but as a leader I cannot say we are going to take all of the time to close the gap," he told Sky Sports.

"Even if we bring in more players, we have to hurry and show urgency to do better because we don't have much time at a club like this. We are in a rush."

Since Amorim took charge of his first United game in November, only Leicester City (12) have failed to score in more Premier League games than the Red Devils (eight).

United have now picked up just three points in nine league home matches against sides starting the day in the top half this season.

"We have so many aspects to improve. Everywhere we need to improve in every aspect, build up, transition, decisions in the final third," Amorim added.

"Every player can improve, they are here because they showed something at other clubs.

"They have the quality, we are still a team that plays on transition, we need to spend more time in the final third to have more opportunities."

This was just the third Manchester derby to finish 0-0 since the start of 2016-17 across all competitions, as both sides settled for a draw that rather summed up their respective, underwhelming seasons.

"If you look at the moment of both teams, not fighting for titles, that changes the game completely," Amorim said of the match. 

"The feeling of winning, not being able to lose one point, that feeling is not here. As the coach it's hard to say that.

"We need to fight for big things, if we do then the feeling will be completely different."