Ruben Amorim, the manager of Manchester United, recently addressed concerns regarding the lack of first-team involvement for young players Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Amass, and Chido Obi. Talking to the press before his team’s league encounter with Aston Villa, Amorim was not shy about airing his grievances. He lamented the capital E entitlement he perceives among some of the club’s younger players. He stood by his past remarks about the players and spoke broadly about the cultural change that needs to happen within the organization.
Amorim also mentioned that fellows Harry Amass or Chido Obi are yet to display a cohesive performance that guarantees a place in the first team. Even so, they have plenty left to prove. He pointed out that opportunities for players such as Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes arose primarily due to injuries within the squad. By keeping the Europa League in the forefront of his decision-making, Amorim is focusing on both short-term needs for the team and long-term needs for development.
Cultural Shift Needed
Throughout the press conference, Amorim reiterated the need to shift the culture at Manchester United. He emphasized that entitlement is a primary concern with many of the young guys nowadays. He observed that they frequently overreact to bad management practices.
“It’s the environment, the kids feel entitled and free to respond to the manager with a picture.” – Ruben Amorim
He continued, adding that tough language isn’t the worst thing to happen to a player’s growth. He argues that going through tumultuous times is an important learning opportunity for youth sports participants.
“Sometimes strong words are not bad words, sometimes difficult moments are not a bad thing for kids.” – Ruben Amorim
Amorim shared that open and honest communication was key. He lamented that very few young players have taken advantage of this opportunity.
“My office is open but nobody is coming to me.” – Ruben Amorim
First-Team Opportunities and Player Performance
Amorim discussed how injuries to key squad members have opened doors for younger players like Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes. He believes that these opportunities should not be taken for granted and emphasized that consistent performance is essential for maintaining their positions in the lineup.
He told the Times, it’s important that players don’t forget what it means to play for Manchester United.
“I think it’s the feeling of entitlement that we have in our club.” – Ruben Amorim
To his credit, in his mind it’s not a given, the players have to deserve the spot on merit as opposed to assumption. As for Chido and Harry Amass, he said neither has clearly established themselves to deserve regular big minutes at this point.
Acknowledging Challenges and Future Directions
Amorim acknowledged that he is responsible for the team’s lack of form on the pitch. He was candid enough to admit that he’s first in line to know when things aren’t on track. Recently, he did some impressive damage control around re-establishing a connection with his fans. Having initially reclaimed them with a differentiated approach in his previous victory over Bournemouth, he found himself behind the eight ball once again.
Despite these challenges, Amorim is optimistic and determined to cultivate the most supportive and empowering environment for the city’s young talent to flourish. He addressed questions surrounding specific incidents involving players like Kobbie Mainoo, clarifying misunderstandings and ensuring that players feel comfortable discussing issues with him.
“I didn’t say anything wrong, I spoke about how the luck of playing for Man Utd.” – Ruben Amorim
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