Ruben Amorim is finally getting his claws into Manchester United after an encouraging pre-season tour of the USA.
Manchester United have already lifted a trophy this season. The fact it was the Premier League Summer Series trophy dampened any euphoria the club’s fans might have felt (DVD sales of the triumph might be modest), but the sight of Ruben Amorim and his players with silverware in-hand was nonetheless a symbol of what has been an encouraging pre-season.
Of course, the online discourse around United’s summer contradicts this. Supporters are generally unhappy at the business that has done in the transfer market, which isn’t to say Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have been unpopular additions, but that most expected many more signings to have been completed by now.
This concern isn’t without justification. Bruno Fernandes himself has admitted the need for “one or two players more” before the start of the 2025/26 season with Amorim still lacking the tools required to truly make his high-energy, high-intensity approach work. His team is still very much a work-in-progress.
Nonetheless, Manchester United have looked a lot more like an Amorim team in pre-season. They have played at a much quicker pace, both in and out of possession. Amorim has placed a focus on fitness and United certainly appear capable of covering more of the pitch than was the case last season when opponents frequently out-worked the Old Trafford outfit in matches.
“We need to be a little bit more emotional in this team,” said Amorim when asked about the culture within his squad and the work that has been done to overhaul this since the end of last season. “With the emotion, we become more sacrifice, more pace, more energy. We are improving on that.”
As the captain, Fernandes has taken it upon himself to maintain high standards within the dressing room. Despite finishing the pre-season tour of the United States unbeaten, the Portuguese was unhappy with elements of United’s performance in Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Everton in Atlanta.
“We didn’t want to finish in this way,” said Fernandes. “Our performance wasn’t the best and we were a little bit lazy. We want to avoid that because with laziness you can pay at any moment.” Manchester United have one last pre-season fixture against Fiorentina this weekend to set a more positive tone before their Premier League opener at home to Arsenal.
Amorim surely feels good about the impact Cunha has made since joining from Wolves. Deployed as one of United’s dual number 10s in behind the centre forward, the Brazilian has brought creativity and invention in the final third. While Cunha failed to score in the three Premier League Summer Series matches, a moment of magic is surely in the pipeline.
Mbeumo’s late arrival in the USA meant he started just one game and it’s clear the Cameroonian still has some fitness work ahead of him to get up to full speed. Even still, Mbeumo plays with the sort of authority Manchester United have been desperate for under Amorim. The 25-year-old has a certain gravity. The ball is drawn to him.
United still hope to sign a new starting number nine before the summer transfer window closes with Benjamin Šeško and Ollie Watkins both linked with a switch to Old Trafford. This would raise further questions over Rasmus Højlund’s future, although the Dane has shown signs of improvement in pre-season.
Against West Ham in particular, Højlund looked like the fast and physical striker that convinced Manchester United to part with £72m to sign him from Atalanta two years ago. The 22-year-old used his pace to get United into good goalscoring positions in the box, giving his team some much-needed threat in and around the area.
There was one moment that stood out, when Højlund made up roughly 15 yards on Max Kilman who was left in the Danish striker’s dust as he surged through on goal. While the West Ham defence did well to narrow the angle, Højlund still managed to get a shot away, pinging a ferocious effort off the post.
Amorim’s midfield is still an area of concern. Manuel Ugarte has looked solid in some pre-season matches and vulnerable in others. Casemiro appears leaner, but will never have the physicality he had as a Real Madrid player. Fernandes has been used as a number eight when he is more effective closer to goal and Amorim still doesn’t seem to fully understand Kobbie Mainoo.
Defensively, there have been shaky moments – like when Amad Diallo rashly booted a clearance off Ayden Heaven and into his own net against Everton on Sunday. The injured André Onana has played no part in pre-season which is far from ideal considering the questions around the Cameroonian goalkeeper.
Expectations of a successful 2025/26 campaign must be weighted against all the issues Amorim inherited and the problems he failed to solve after taking over last season. There’s no guarantee he will ever find a winning formula as Manchester United manager, but for the first time there is hope his team is finally heading in the right direction.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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