Manchester United is in an extremely difficult situation. The British top club sits in 15th place in the Premier League, with little sign of improvement. However, manager Ruben Amorim remains optimistic.
Portuguese manager Rúben Amorim has focused on team-building activities this week, as he revealed in his press conference ahead of Manchester United’s crucial away match against Everton.
With the club struggling to find consistency and currently languishing in the lower half of the Premier League table, Amorim has attempted to shift the focus from tactical adjustments to strengthening the team’s unity and mentality. "It is more important than training. I see the group working on improving unity and relationships. We are bonding with each other, and that helps us understand better how we want to play."
The former Sporting CP manager, who arrived at Old Trafford with high expectations, is under increasing pressure as results continue to disappoint. Despite his efforts to instill a more cohesive playing style, Manchester United has struggled to find rhythm in the league, suffering frustrating defeats and failing to show the resilience expected from a club of their stature. In response, Amorim has taken an unconventional approach, prioritizing off-field activities to rebuild trust and chemistry among his players. He emphasized the importance of fostering a strong collective mindset, believing that a more united squad will lead to improvements on the pitch.
Amorim made an interesting remark about the atmosphere in training, suggesting that a shift in mentality is beginning to take place. "Even the sound in training is different," he noted. He was referring to the increased enthusiasm and energy among his players, an element that had perhaps been lacking in recent weeks. "When we do an exercise, you can hear the sound. You can feel the sound. People are talking, asking for the ball, and giving instructions to each other. You can sense that the environment is changing. We are changing. It is important that this energy returns to our game." His comments indicate that while the results are yet to reflect progress, he sees encouraging signs in training that suggest a turnaround may be possible.
However, these improvements were not enough to prevent another disappointing result at Goodison Park. Manchester United’s struggles continued as they suffered a 2-1 defeat against Everton in a match that was marked by defensive lapses and missed opportunities. United started brightly, showing more attacking intent than in previous outings, but their inability to convert chances proved costly. Everton, disciplined and well-organized, absorbed the pressure and struck on the counter, exposing United’s defensive vulnerabilities. Despite a late push for an equalizer, Amorim’s men were unable to rescue a point, leaving them with yet another setback in their challenging league campaign.
The result only adds to the pressure on Amorim, as Manchester United remains far from their ambitions of challenging for the top four. Sitting uncomfortably low in the table, the Red Devils are facing growing frustration from both supporters and pundits. Critics have pointed out the team’s lack of consistency, their defensive frailties, and a concerning inability to impose themselves against disciplined opposition.
Despite the loss, Amorim remained steadfast in his belief that progress is being made. Speaking after the match, he expressed disappointment but refused to lose confidence in his project. "I feel like we are creating more chances," he stated. "Sometimes we have difficult matches, but we are capable enough to handle it. We just need to be more consistent because otherwise, we will have more problems than solutions." His words suggest that while the process may take time, he remains committed to instilling his philosophy and believes that results will eventually follow.
As Manchester United looks ahead to their upcoming fixtures, the focus momentarily shifts to Europe, where they will face Real Sociedad in the Europa League. However, Amorim made it clear that his priority remains the Premier League. "I just want to beat Everton," he said before the match. "We are in a difficult situation in the Premier League. Every match presents a lot of challenges, and we need to fix those now. If I start thinking about Real Sociedad at this moment, then I am not doing my job properly." His comments reflect the urgency of United’s domestic struggles, where every game has become critical in their quest to salvage their season.
The loss at Goodison Park further underlines the scale of the challenge facing Amorim. While there have been glimpses of improvement, turning United’s fortunes around remains a formidable task. With mounting pressure from fans and media, the coming weeks could be decisive for his future at Old Trafford. The question now is whether Manchester United can translate their training ground progress into tangible results before it is too late.
