Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim acknowledged the dire state of the club's domestic season following a disappointing 4-3 defeat at Brentford on Sunday, May 4, 2025. Conceding that significant change is on the horizon at Old Trafford, Amorim, who arrived from Sporting Lisbon in November to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag, has struggled to turn the tide for the Red Devils. With only six wins in his 24 Premier League matches in charge, the pressure is mounting on the young coach.
Once hailed as one of Europe's most promising young coaches during his tenure at Sporting, Amorim is now facing scrutiny as the team's 12th league defeat under his leadership has plunged them to a lowly 15th place in the Premier League table. With the threat of their lowest league finish since their relegation in the 1973-74 season looming large, only success in the Europa League appears capable of salvaging what has been a turbulent campaign.
Despite their struggles in the Premier League, Manchester United secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Amorim is acutely aware that Manchester United cannot sustain their current Premier League malaise. The club has not lifted the English league title since 2013, while rivals Liverpool equaled their record of 20 English championships last weekend.
“It was a reflection of our season,” Amorim somberly stated regarding their lacklustre performance at Brentford. “The players have to understand we cannot do this anymore. We know the context of the season and we need to change that.” The defeat in the 35th round of the Premier League marked Amorim's 12th league loss, adding to his six wins and six draws, resulting in a concerning 40% success rate in the domestic tournament.
This underwhelming record has drawn significant criticism from Manchester United supporters on social media platform Fanatics, with many expressing their frustration with the team's inconsistent performances in the league. One user described it as the "worst of all time." Another fan commented on Amorim's future, stating, "If we finish 17th and don’t win the Europa League, he’ll have to be sacked. I don’t want him to be, but he can’t keep his job after doing this." One particularly concerned supporter drew parallels with the previous manager's situation, warning, "(Erik) ten Hag all over again! He's going to win the Europa League to cover the cracks."
The stark contrast between the team's disjointed displays in the Premier League and their more cohesive performances in the Europa League has left many fans perplexed and deeply worried. "What is wrong with this team?! How do they play in the Premier League and how do they play in the Europa League?!", questioned one exasperated Football Fanatic following the Brentford defeat.
In the wake of the loss, Amorim defended making wholesale changes to field the club’s youngest-ever Premier League lineup in Sunday’s match, saying the club’s focus is entirely on its Europa League campaign. With an average age of just 22, the lineup clearly signaled where the team’s priorities lie. United fell to a club-record 16th Premier League defeat, while the victory boosted Brentford’s European hopes as it moved up to ninth.
“We, as a club, need to understand, in this moment, we have a big responsibility. We have to prepare a squad for different competitions,” Amorim said in a post-match interview. “I have no doubt that we are playing better. So we have to take all the heat. At this moment, we are losing games in the Premier League. We are fighting for the Europa League, and Thursday is the most important game for us.”
United cannot finish in the top half of the table anymore, but Amorim emphasized the importance of winning the Europa League as it is their only chance of qualifying for the Champions League. He also noted that the squad is not yet ready to compete at a high level in both domestic and European tournaments. “We are not ready for that yet. But we need to win this competition to give something to our fans,” he added.
Injury concerns also plagued the squad, with Matthijs de Ligt coming off with an injury during the match, and Luke Shaw was taken off at halftime to preserve him for Thursday's game against Athletic Bilbao. Midfielder Mason Mount, who scored his first goal of the season, stated that winning the Europa League was the “most important thing” as the campaign draws to a close. “The season we’ve had in the Premier League is something we need to look at massively,” he said. “But if we can get into the final and win that, it’s a positive end to the season.”
Amorim's decision to field a youthful squad against Brentford, making eight changes from the side that defeated Athletic Club 3-0, has sparked debate. While some youngsters like Tyler Fredricson got another chance to impress, others, such as Jaydan Kamason, were left out of the squad entirely, raising questions about the manager's long-term strategy. The absence of Kamason, who has been thriving in the academy, was viewed by some as a missed opportunity for the club to nurture emerging talent.
As the season winds down, Manchester United's focus is firmly on the Europa League. With their Premier League campaign effectively a write-off, the club's hopes now rest on their ability to secure European glory and restore some pride to the storied Old Trafford name. The upcoming second leg against Athletic Bilbao on May 8, 2025, is crucial, and Amorim's squad must be ready to deliver a strong performance to secure their place in the final.
In summary, the road ahead is fraught with challenges, but for Ruben Amorim and Manchester United, the Europa League represents a glimmer of hope in an otherwise disappointing season. The team must rally together, learn from their mistakes, and focus on bringing home the trophy that could change everything.
