It won’t be the assumption for many Manchester United fans after a frustrating transfer window at the point of writing this, but Ruben Amorim is cutting an optimistic figure.
Last season, Man Utd found new lows in the Premier League on a weekly basis and ended the season on a whimper by losing in the Europa League final (3-1 win against Hong Kong does not count!).
The easy assumption is that the only way to go from here is upwards, and Ruben Amorim also promised that ‘good days are coming‘ to Old Trafford.
He has now said that Man Utd are in a ‘much better position’ now due to something which happened in the nightmare 2024/25 season.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty ImagesRuben Amorim on Man Utd’s 2025/26 prospects
Ruben Amorim will take charge in the 2025/26 season in full knowledge that the “free hit” he was afforded throughout his time in 2024/25 will no longer be there.
Even accounting for a below-par transfer window so far, there must be improvement on the results, and more importantly, the performances of last season.
Internal improvements from players already there are of as much importance as signing new ones, or sealing departures of unwanted ones.
Amorim, speaking for United’s 2024/25 season review, has claimed that the club is in a much better place than it would have been because he came in November.
He said: “We all suffered so much disappointment and pain together last season as we went through that process of changing the way we work in our club. However, we are now in a much better position than we would have been if I was only joining this summer.
“Because of everything I have learned in the past eight months, and everything the players have learned about what I expect of them.”
The gloves are off, and Amorim will be expected to live up to the billing, putting into action what, in his own words, he has learned in the past eight months.
Jason Wilcox echoes Amorim’s argument
Ineos have fully backed Amorim, if not in sales, which are outside their control to an extent, but definitely in terms of squad building.
The players he didn’t want have been isolated from the group, even at the cost of the financial hit they’d take in the window.
Jason Wilcox is the main man at United now in his director of football role, and he has echoed Amorim’s sentiments to show a united front at the club.
He said: “We now feel in a much stronger position, with Ruben and our new football leadership team bedded in, to start moving in the right direction.”
Both Ineos and Amorim’s intentions and words offered them protection in a dismal season, but only results will do the same in 2025/26.