Manchester United coach must “put a stamp down” as soon as season starts, says Ashley Young
Former Manchester United captain Ashley Young has warned current head coach Ruben Amorim to expect intense scrutiny next season, in what will be the Portuguese manager’s first full campaign with the club.
Amorim was appointed in November 2024 to replace Erik ten Hag, after the Dutchman was sacked following an abject start to the season that left United in 14th place in the league. However, he struggled to turn around the fortunes of the club and they lost 16 times in 42 games under him, with most of these losses coming in the Premier League. United ultimately finished 15th in the table.
“He didn’t want to come in halfway – he wanted it to be at the start of the season,” Young told Sky Sports. “It was going to be tough either way but when you come in halfway into a season, I’m sure many managers would say it’s a tough ask.
“When you’re joining the biggest club in the world, especially given where they were at, it was going to be even harder.”
United have now embarked on a summer of serious rebuild, although this has largely stalled since the £62.5m signing of Matheus Cunha on the first day of the transfer window. The club have seen two bids rejected for Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo, and there has been very low interest in the five players whose futures lie away from Old Trafford.
Young believes Amorim deserves to be given time to sign the right players to implement his tactical vision. But at the same time he warned that results will be expected after having spent six months already at the club.
“You’re going to have to give him time,” said Young. “Who knows how many transfer windows?
“But at the same time, he needs to set his marker, put a stamp down as soon as he starts this season. I don’t think anyone can give him any more excuses. It’s now or never really.”
United have resumed pre-season activities ahead of Amorim’s first full campaign. The squad jet off to Stockholm this week where they will play their first pre-season fixture against Leeds United on 19 July.
Also read: Manchester United’s Pre-Season Schedule 2025: Fixtures, Venues and What to Expect
The friendly in Sweden will be followed by a tour of the United States, where the club will play three matches against Premier League sides West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton, before returning to England for a friendly against Fiorentina at Old Trafford on 9 August.
Young said: “Amorim has got to have a good pre-season with the team, work out what his best team is, what players fit into the system.
“Unless he is going to change his system, but you can’t see him changing the formation he has been playing.”
