Ruben Amorim has revealed that the Premier League Profit and Sustainability rules are restricting Manchester United's activity in the transfer market and insisted the squad will not change much.
The Red Devils' failure to beat Tottenham in the Europa League final saw them miss out on the £100million windfall from the Champions League and further exposed a precarious financial position.
United need to overhaul a squad that has shown itself to be incapable of carrying out out the Portuguese' 3-4-3 system but Amorim has warned that this will not be easy and urged for patience from supporters.
'Without Champions League, we don't need a big squad, we can control the squad in a better way,' he told reporters ahead of the club's post-season tour of Asia.
'We have a plan that is to bring some new players, of course, but our big plan is to improve the team that we have, is to improve our academy, that is the future, is not going to change so much because we have the FFP rules, we are not allowed to do much this summer.
'It's important to stick together. We are going to struggle, it is not going to be everything right away but I see the team improving and that is the most important thing.'
Despite Amorim's plea for caution, the club have moved quickly in the market to secure the signature of Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha from Wolves.
The Wolves is set to move to Old Trafford in a £62.5m deal, while Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo - valued at £50m - is also being pursed.
A busy summer of incoming and departures was expected regardless of the outcome of the Europa League final amid a horrendous league campaign that saw the club finish 15th on just 42 points.
United's league record since the 40-year-old's arrival from Sporting CP in November is abject. They managed just seven wins in 27 matches, scoring 32 and conceding 42.
Yet, having claimed an unlikely victory on the final day against Aston Villa, Amorim sensationally insisted that he sees improvement and stressed his belief that United are moving in the right direction.
'A really tough season without trophies in the league,' he added. 'It's a really big club that is alive and change things.
'For some people it's hard to understand and see but I think we are improving as a team. That lack of goals punishes us in some games. If I have to choose a positive, it's that feeling in the stadium with the fans and that’s the beginning of something.'
United flew out to Malaysia just hours after salvaging some pride from their worst Premier League season ever by beating Aston Villa 2-0 on Sunday.
Mail Sport understands that the club is being paid around £8million for the trip, which will see them play in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, then in Hong Kong.
To kick off their tour, United will face ASEAN All Stars in the 84,000-capacity Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on May 28.
On May 30, they will conclude the jaunt with a clash against Hong Kong in the 40,000-capacity Hong Kong Stadium.