I Went To Games Knowing We Would Struggle - Amorim

Manchester United leader Ruben Amorim says he travelled to games past play fearful of what was going to hap to his team.

Speaking to reporters who are accompanying United connected their pre-season circuit of nan United States, Amorim revealed for nan first clip nan extent of his despair astatine presiding complete United's worst play since nan 1973-74 relegation campaign.

United vanished 15th successful nan Premier League past play - their lowest convention decorativeness since nan 1989-90 campaign.

Amorim, who replaced nan sacked Erik 10 Hag arsenic head successful November 2024, oversaw a tally of 7 wins from 27 convention games - and a shattering Europa League last conclusion by Tottenham successful Bilbao.

Asked really he felt erstwhile he returned location to meet his woman and young family aft repeated defeats - astatine 1 constituent his broadside mislaid 4 games successful a statement and later connected won only 3 times successful 11 matches - Amorim said it was pre-match that was nan astir stressful.

"To show you nan truth, it's not really I returned to my location aft nan games, it was really I near to spell to nan games, because I felt that sometimes we will struggle," he said.

"All nan struggles we had successful games, I felt it before. That was nan hardest part.

"To spell to nan games and cognize that we are not going to beryllium competitory - I was really frustrated."

But Amorim says he does not consciousness for illustration that now. He says he has a little "romantic" position of his occupation but besides sees positives that make him "believe" amended days are ahead.

In a 25-minute, wide-ranging question and reply astatine Chicago Fire's training ground, Amorim covered a scope of topics, including:

During past season's acheronian days, Amorim was many times criticised for refusing to tweak his tactical approach.

"Sometimes, erstwhile you are losing, you mightiness deliberation let's alteration nan standards a small spot for them [the players] to beryllium pinch me," he said.

"I didn't - and they saw it. Now they understand erstwhile I opportunity something, I will do it.

"I don't dainty nan players arsenic babies. But they person rules now and that tin alteration nan measurement you train.

"I'm ever connected top. If you don't train successful nan correct way, I person footage to show you. And I show you successful beforehand of everybody."

Amorim has appointed a activity group of six players - Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Tom Heaton, Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui - to uphold standards successful nan dressing room and woody pinch nan "small things".

It has not been easy to get to this point.

Amorim admits location were times past play erstwhile he wavered and wondered if he had done nan correct point leaving Portuguese nine Sporting - wherever he had built his estimation and wherever he was feted arsenic a leader - mid-season.

He did not spell seeking retired assurances. For Amorim, keeping his occupation says enough.

"Try to retrieve 1 team, 1 large squad that mislaid truthful galore games and nan head kept their job," he said.

"You will not find it. That shows much than words that they support me."

Amorim said past play that he was not worried astir immoderate unit connected his position, focusing alternatively connected nan squad and what was needed to improve.

"This is not nan infinitesimal I felt astir unit successful my life. I had to decorativeness my profession arsenic a subordinate really quickly because of nan injuries," he said.

"I retrieve maine and my woman had an Excel spreadsheet pinch each nan money that we person and each nan things that I need. I want to thief my family. I felt nan unit successful that time.

"Nowadays, it's much for illustration an ego thing. I want to beryllium head of Manchester United for a while.

"I took 5 years to take this club. I don't want to fail."

Asked really agelong he wants to enactment astatine nan club, Amorim replied: "I want to enactment 20 [years]. That is my goal. I genuinely judge successful that."

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe told BBC Sport successful March that Amorim was doing "a ace job", describing him arsenic "an outstanding young manager".

"We speak connected nan phone, he sends maine messages, he sends maine gifs - [I'm] joking," Amorim said.

"It's really easy to woody pinch Jim. If you cognize your stuff, really to explicate immoderate decision, you'll beryllium fine.

"I cognize he's nan proprietor of nan club, I cognize my place. But erstwhile I request to opportunity something, I'm really direct.

"I deliberation it's thing he likes a lot."

The squad will return to training astatine Carrington connected Wednesday. The unwanted quartet of Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrrell Malacia will proceed to train astatine different times to nan main squad.

"Garnacho is simply a really talented boy. But sometimes things don't activity out," Amorim explained.

"You cannot explicate specifically what it is. It's clear he wants a different point pinch a different leadership.

"They want caller challenges. The marketplace is open. I'm conscionable moving pinch nan players that I deliberation are going to stay."

The purpose for nan play is easy for Amorim.

"I cognize it's a monolithic spread from wherever we vanished - but it's Manchester United. We request to return to Europe," he said.

And beyond that? Can United triumph nan Premier League and Champions League again?

"I person nary doubts," Amorim said.

"There are immoderate things you cannot bargain that this nine has: pedigree, history, fans. We person money without nan Champions League.

"With each these things, if we person a different culture, we tin return to our place."

It is very early but location are signs Amorim's attack is working.

On Wednesday, pinch a starting line-up retaining 9 of nan squad that performed truthful poorly successful Bilbao, United looked efficient, energised and, astatine times, breathtaking successful a 4-1 triumph complete Bournemouth.

Patrick Dorgu excelled successful nan left-sided wing-back domiciled and Luke Shaw is fresh and performing to a level that made him an automatic prime for England.

However, while location is much intent and assurance astir striker Rasmus Hojlund, it has emerged that United are consenting to waste him for £30m.

Victory against Everton successful Atlanta will nonstop United location pinch a 100% grounds from their 3 games successful nan United States.

Amorim has support successful nan boardroom. He besides has it successful nan Old Trafford stands. Fans continually sang his sanction and Amorim has promised them this play will beryllium better.

"If I opportunity it, it's because I judge it," he said. "We cannot power nan results. But nan measurement we play, nan measurement we perform, nan measurement we link pinch nan fans, each these mini things, we are going to do those nary matter what.

"All nan in installments I had erstwhile I arrived was utilized past year. Now we person to perform.

"If I person nan emotion earlier nan crippled we are going to beryllium competitive, past we'll beryllium OK.

"I conscionable don't want to return to that emotion that we are reasoning it's not a 50-50 game."