Manchester United Has Failed Amorim Yet Again With Pre-season Embarrassment
The 2025/26 pre-season was supposed to be the dawn of a new era at Old Trafford. Under the stewardship of newly-appointed manager Rúben Amorim, Manchester United had the chance to reset, rebuild, and reignite the club’s DNA with a fresh tactical identity and ambitious transfer strategy. INEOS, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, had promised professionalism and clarity. Fans expected structure, urgency, and above all, progress. But just a few games into pre-season, those promises already ring hollow.
United’s sluggish, confused, and error-laden performances on their international tour have left supporters wondering if anything has truly changed. From the top down, the club appears to have failed Amorim, just as they have countless managers before him.
Let’s examine how United have once again let down their new boss — from transfer indecision to tactical disarray — and why the problems go far deeper than a couple of poor friendly results.
🔁 Same Old United: No Support, No Identity
When Amorim was announced as manager in early June, there was cautious optimism. The Portuguese tactician had built an exciting and well-drilled side at Sporting CP, turning unknown prospects into stars and competing domestically with fewer resources than his rivals. His 3-4-3 pressing system, modern training methods, and man-management prowess suggested that he was precisely what United needed after the disjointed Ten Hag era.
But optimism has quickly turned to concern.
United’s performances against teams like Club América and Melbourne Victory were nothing short of embarrassing. Sloppy possession, static pressing, slow transitions, and tactical confusion were all on full display. It’s not that United lost — pre-season results mean little. It’s how they played: with no cohesion, no urgency, and no visible direction.
This isn’t a failure of coaching. It’s a failure of support. The board promised Amorim the tools and squad he needed to implement his ideas. Instead, they handed him a fractured, incomplete roster — again.
🧱 Transfers: Too Little, Too Late
To understand Amorim’s predicament, look no further than the transfer window. When he agreed to take over, assurances were given: that key targets would be secured early, that unwanted players would be moved on swiftly, and that the squad would be moulded in his image well before pre-season began.
None of those promises have been delivered.
✅ Key Signings Delayed
- Victor Osimhen, the club’s most important signing, only arrived weeks into pre-season, missing vital tactical sessions.
- Bryan Mbeumo’s deal, although now nearing completion, was delayed over payment structure disagreements.
- João Neves, Amorim’s preferred midfield dynamo, is still stuck in protracted negotiations with Benfica.
- Leny Yoro, a defensive priority, is leaning toward Real Madrid, leaving United scrambling for alternatives.
Amorim came in with a clear plan. Yet the club’s inability to move quickly in the market has left him coaching players he doesn’t want and missing key components in nearly every position.
🚪 Unwanted Players Still Here
Despite public intentions to offload the likes of Jadon Sancho, Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay, and Donny van de Beek, all remain at the club — either training with the reserves or limping through pre-season games. Their presence is more than awkward; it’s disruptive.
In a high-intensity tactical system like Amorim’s, every player must understand their role. Drilling that system into individuals who aren’t part of the long-term plan is a waste of time and energy. United’s failure to clear out the squad has again left their manager with a bloated, confused dressing room.
🧠 Tactical Confusion: Amorim’s Ideas Undermined
The purpose of pre-season isn’t just fitness — it’s philosophy. It’s about instilling a tactical framework, building chemistry, and testing formations. But for Amorim, that has been made near-impossible.
His preferred 3-4-3 formation requires:
- Two athletic wide centre-backs who can build play and cover ground
- Dynamic wing-backs with stamina and intelligence
- A deep-lying midfield controller
- A high-energy forward who presses intelligently and finishes clinically
Right now, Amorim is missing at least four of those components. He doesn’t have the defenders or midfielders he needs, and his tactical sessions are being run with makeshift pairings and underperforming players.
In the matches so far, United’s defensive line has looked disjointed, struggling to cover space or initiate build-up play. The midfield — often featuring a mix of fringe players and youngsters — has failed to link defence and attack. The front three, lacking chemistry, have looked flat and predictable.
When a manager can’t implement his ideas in training, the system suffers. When the board fails to sign his targets, the message gets blurred. This isn’t Amorim’s United — it’s the latest victim of systemic failure.
💬 Player Confusion and Low Morale
Amorim has reportedly been frustrated but professional behind the scenes. But sources suggest growing discontent within the squad too. Players don’t know if they’re staying or going. Roles are undefined. New arrivals haven’t yet integrated, and some youth prospects — promised opportunities under the new regime — have been pushed aside due to senior player logjams.
Youngsters like Willy Kambwala, Dan Gore, and Omari Forson have had limited opportunities, while underperforming seniors continue to get minutes — not because they’ve earned them, but because the club hasn’t cleared them out.
This uncertainty breeds doubt — the enemy of progress. Amorim needs clarity. Instead, he’s stuck with a squad in limbo.
🧬 INEOS and the ‘New Era’ Myth
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival was meant to usher in professionalism, transparency, and long-term planning. But so far, the INEOS-led football structure is making the same mistakes that plagued United under the Glazers’ reign alone.
The issues?
- Sluggish negotiations
- Mediocre scouting reach
- Failure to sell
- No urgency in key positions
Amorim’s ideas aren’t being blocked — they’re being starved. He’s been set up to fail before he’s truly begun. Sound familiar? It’s the same script that ran under Mourinho, Van Gaal, Solskjær, and Ten Hag. Ambitious managers with ideas, all undone by a club unable — or unwilling — to match that ambition structurally.
⚠️ Fan Frustration Mounts
The mood among supporters has shifted from excitement to concern. Social media is flooded with criticism — not of Amorim, but of the infrastructure around him. Pre-season performances are being viewed not just as bad games, but as warnings of another false dawn.
Some fan comments reflect growing impatience:
🗣️ “You can see what Amorim wants, but the players can’t deliver it. That’s on the board.”
🗣️ “New era? It’s the same dysfunction with a fresh coat of paint.”
🗣️ “If we fail Amorim like we failed Ten Hag, we’re done for another 5 years.”
🗣️ “Why do we never have the squad ready before pre-season? Every year. Every manager.”
The fanbase sees what’s happening. Amorim hasn’t been backed — not in time, not fully, and not with conviction.
🧭 Where Does United Go From Here?
Time isn’t on Amorim’s side. The season opener is just weeks away, and United look nowhere near ready. If INEOS and the club hierarchy want to avoid disaster, they must act immediately:
✅ 1. Complete Priority Transfers Now
Wrap up deals for João Neves, a starting-calibre right centre-back, and a new right wing-back. Time is more valuable than negotiating over a few million.
🚪 2. Accelerate Departures
Clear the squad of players who don’t fit — not just for balance, but to send a message of accountability. That means fast-tracking the exits of Sancho, Van de Beek, and others.
🎯 3. Empower Amorim Publicly
Give him full control and back him openly. Let fans know he has the board’s confidence. Protect him from media attacks when the early season struggles inevitably come.
🧱 4. Trust the Process
Results may be inconsistent at first. Amorim’s system takes time. But short-term pain will lead to long-term gain — if the club lets him build properly.
🟥 Final Thoughts: A Familiar Tragedy in the Making
Manchester United have a world-class manager in Rúben Amorim. They have one of the most talented young cores in Europe. They have financial power, a loyal fanbase, and a new leadership structure that promised evolution.
But none of it matters without execution.
Pre-season has exposed the truth: the club talks about change, but still operates with hesitation and dysfunction. Once again, they’ve handed a brilliant tactician a broken squad, missed transfer targets, and muddled expectations.
United haven’t just failed in pre-season — they’ve failed a manager who could change everything, if only they gave him the chance.
The clock is ticking. Either they fix it now, or we’ll be right back here next summer — writing the same story about another fallen manager, and a club still running in circles.
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