Amorim Sets Ruthless Tone Ahead of Man United Rebuild
Ahead of Manchester United’s pre-season tour of Asia, Rúben Amorim has made it clear: the road to redemption will be tough. Following the club’s worst Premier League finish in over 30 years—15th place, 18 losses, and no European football—Amorim is preparing for a brutal rebuild.
Appointed in November 2024 to replace Erik ten Hag, Amorim inherited a struggling squad that failed to adapt to his preferred 3-4-3 system. Injuries to key players like Lisandro Martínez, Amad Diallo, and Diogo Dalot further complicated matters. The season ended on a sour note with a 1–0 loss to Tottenham in the Europa League final.
Amorim hasn’t shied away from criticism. After a 3–1 defeat to Brighton, he bluntly called the squad “maybe the worst team in the club’s history”—a comment he later clarified was a reflection on his own impact. Still, his message is clear: only through collective hardship can progress be made.
He’s already made bold moves, dropping Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho for the Manchester derby due to poor training, making it evident that no one is guaranteed a place.
Training at Carrington this summer will be pivotal. Amorim’s high-demand 3-4-3 system—so successful at Sporting CP—requires pace, fitness, and tactical discipline. United’s current squad has struggled with creativity (down to 9.5 chances per 90 minutes from 11.7 under Ten Hag) and remains shaky in defense, with André Onana’s distribution and slow centre-backs regularly exposed.
Amorim is targeting “one or two major signings,” including Wolves’ Matheus Cunha and Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, and may greenlight the departures of Rashford, Casemiro, or even Garnacho to fund them. Youngsters like Kobbie Mainoo—possibly in a more advanced role—and academy talents Sekou Koné and Godwill Kukonki could see increased involvement.
With a lighter match load in 2025–26 (around 40–50 games), Amorim plans to use the time to instill discipline, physicality, and sharp set-piece routines.
While his brutal honesty has split opinion—some players thought his Brighton comments were too harsh—his former Sporting staff say it builds loyalty. Amorim balances high standards with compassion, having bought tickets for club staff to attend the Europa League final and maintaining strong connections with fans.
Upcoming pre-season friendlies in Malaysia, the US, and elsewhere in Asia will test the squad’s progress, though concerns remain over the fitness of new signings Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro.
Fan patience is wearing thin. Amorim knows the pressure he’s under—but insists he won’t walk away. His philosophy, rooted in honesty, sacrifice, and accountability, could either reignite United’s revival or prove too demanding for a fractured squad.
Whether this new chapter ends in success or struggle, Amorim’s approach is clear: suffer together now to rise again later.
