Ruben Amorim’s frankness about Manchester United’s poor performances risks hurting the club and should be more careful next season, Mail Football Editor Ian Ladyman said on the season finale of the ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ podcast.
Speaking to reporter Nathan Salt after United’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford, Ladyman reflected on Amorim’s parting speech to the fans where the Portuguese apologised for presiding over a ‘cataclysmic’ season.
Not only did United record their worst-ever league finish, but they also lost to an ailing Tottenham side in the Europa League final last week.
However, some shoots of optimism are appearing ahead of next season, with Wolves star Matheus Cunha looking likely to join the Red Devils. Ladyman said Amorim must be mindful not to carry over the negativity from 202425 into next season.
‘I do wonder whether Amorim says far too much’, Ladyman said.
Not only did United record their worst-ever league finish, but they also lost to an ailing Tottenham side in the Europa League final last week
Ian Ladyman: ‘I do wonder whether Amorim says far too much.’ Listen here
‘He went out on the pitch at Old Trafford with the microphone on the season’s final day to apologise for his team’s performances.
‘I could see Rasmus Hojlund standing behind him, looking bemused. Matthias De Ligt was caught by the cameras laughing a little bit. He looked uncomfortable.
‘Amorim’s good for a killer soundbite: they are great for us in the media. Great for our social feeds, great for the back pages – and now here’s another, with Amorim saying sorry on the final day of the season.
‘I wonder whether he should just keep his mouth shut – it’s adding to the drama and there’s enough of that already.’
Co-host Nathan Salt, who was there at Old Trafford for Amorim’s apology, disagreed with Ladyman, arguing that the manager’s honesty is good for a club whose representatives are ‘happy to bury their heads in the sand.’
Some shoots of optimism are appearing ahead of next season, with Wolves star Matheus Cunha looking likely to join the Red Devils
‘It’s very difficult for me to say somebody’s being too honest’, Salt responded.
‘If you compare United with Tottenham, Ange Postecoglou said they had an outstanding season after winning the Europa League. To give Amorim credit, he said the Europa League would not salvage what has been a dreadful year.
‘I think the people at Manchester United need to hear the brutal reality of how far they have fallen. Someone needs to be able to point that out.’
Salt admitted however that he fails to see the manager’s grounds for optimism ahead of next season.
In his speech, Amorim declared that ‘the good days are coming’ to the rapturous applause of United supporters.
Salt told the podcast: ‘The bit that surprised me, more so than the apology, was Amorim saying the good days are coming. What has he seen to suggest that is the case?
‘He is going to have a limited transfer budget. He’s got a lot of players that aren’t good enough.
‘He’s trying to establish a culture and yet – Onana was taken out of the firing line yesterday, Garnacho was dropped from the squad entirely, big question marks over whether he’ll be sold. There are also question marks over Hojlund and various others.
‘Amorim’s not going to have a great ability to transform a squad that finished 15th – so saying that the good times are coming, I thought was pretty bold.’
To listen to the full episode reflecting on the final day of the Premier League season, search for ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ now, wherever you get your podcasts.
