As Manchester United prepare for their pre-season tour of Asia, new manager Rúben Amorim has made it crystal clear: turning around the club’s fortunes won’t be easy. After a historically poor campaign that saw United finish 15th in the Premier League, lose 18 matches, and miss out on European football altogether, the club is bracing for one of its most intense overhauls in recent memory.
Appointed in November 2024 to succeed Erik ten Hag, Amorim took charge of a disjointed and injury-ridden squad that struggled to adapt to his preferred 3-4-3 formation. Setbacks involving key players like Lisandro Martínez, Amad Diallo, and Diogo Dalot didn’t help matters. A 1–0 loss to Tottenham in the Europa League final only deepened the sense of disappointment.
Amorim hasn’t hesitated to confront the club’s decline head-on. Following a loss to Brighton, he controversially described the team as possibly the worst in United’s history—a remark he later softened as being self-critical. Still, his message stands: success will only come through shared struggle and hard work.
The Portuguese manager has already demonstrated his strict standards. He benched both Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho for the Manchester derby, citing poor training performances. Under Amorim, no player is safe from scrutiny or consequences.
This summer’s training sessions at Carrington will be crucial. Amorim’s demanding 3-4-3 system, which brought him success at Sporting CP, relies heavily on physical fitness, tactical awareness, and pressing intensity. Creativity in attack has dipped since his arrival, with chances created dropping from 11.7 per 90 minutes under Ten Hag to 9.5. Defensively, the team remains vulnerable, with slow centre-backs and exposed goalkeeper distribution compounding issues.
To kickstart the rebuild, Amorim is eyeing a few key signings. Wolves’ Matheus Cunha and Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo are reportedly on his radar. But to bring in new faces, some big names may have to leave. Rashford, Casemiro, and even Garnacho are all considered possible departures to generate funds. Meanwhile, young talents like Kobbie Mainoo—potentially in a more attacking role—along with academy prospects Sekou Koné and Godwill Kukonki, could earn more opportunities.
With fewer games on the calendar in the 2025–26 season, Amorim plans to use the extra time to drill the squad on fitness, tactical sharpness, and set-piece execution. Despite facing mixed reactions for his blunt assessments, his former colleagues from Sporting believe this tough love approach fosters loyalty and long-term progress. He’s also shown compassion, buying tickets for club staff to attend the Europa League final and maintaining fan engagement.
The upcoming friendlies in Malaysia, the United States, and other Asian countries will be a key test for Amorim’s early work. However, the physical readiness of new signings Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro remains uncertain.
Supporters are growing impatient, but Amorim remains firm. He has no plans to step aside and is committed to a philosophy built on honesty, discipline, and collective sacrifice. Whether this new direction revives Manchester United or proves too harsh for a fragmented squad remains to be seen—but Amorim has made it clear that the only path forward begins with enduring the pain together.
