Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has emphasised the need for greater pace and all-round improvement, especially in the team’s midfield, as the club kicked off their pre-season with a goalless draw against Leeds United on Saturday here.
Following a disappointing 2024-25 English Premier League campaign — the Red Devils finished 15th and missed out on Champions League qualification after a narrow 0-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final — Amorim acknowledged there is much work to be done.
A disappointed Man Utd skipper Bruno Fernandes during the match vs Leeds Utd on Saturday. Pic/Getty Images
“We have a lack of pace, especially in the middle of the park, and you can feel it. It’s hard to bring the ball [forward]. We also suffered a little bit when we tried to press high, they [Leeds United] kicked the ball long, won the second ball and were a danger in that scenario,” the Portuguese manager told MUTV.
Despite the transfer of striker Matheus Cunha — who started against Leeds — and the incoming Bryan Mbeumo, Amorim felt his team will have a dog-fight on their hands in the upcoming season, but remained adamant that they will improve under his coaching as the season progresses.
“We’re going to struggle, but we [will] struggle together and that is the beginning of everything. And then we have to bring out the quality because this club is not just about the effort, it’s the quality and you have to win games. As a group, we have a lot to improve on, the speed of the game, all the details, but we are definitely going to improve,” he said. Head coach Ruben Amorim feels the need to struggle
United still have five friendlies to get into fighting shape before the start of the season. They will face West Ham, Bournemouth, Everton, and Fiorentina before they take on Arsenal in the EPL opener on August 17.
15th
Man Utd’s position in the EPL last season
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