Former Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan has told Ruben Amorim what is now “really important” for the Premier League after a turbulent 2024-25 campaign.
Manchester United ended their 2024-25 season with their worst finish in the Premier League era, with the Red Devils left hanging in 15th place in the league table.
Ruben Amorim was placed under immense pressure in the previous campaign amid the Red Devils’ poor run of form in the Premier League season.
The 40-year-old United manager faced the uphill task of seeing out the 2024-25 campaign at Old Trafford after he replaced former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag in 2024.
Erik ten Hag’s reign as United manager ended last October after he was sacked and the Red Devils brought Amorim to Old Trafford from Sporting CP a month later.
Amorim was within touching distance of his first piece of silverware as Red Devils boss, but United suffered a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final.
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Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim participates in the official training at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 27, 2025. Manchester United and ASEAN All-Stars are set to face off for the Maybank Challenge Cup during their post-season friendly trip to Asia.
Photo by Hari Anggara/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Mike Phelan’s clear-cut assessment on Man Utd’s 2024-25 season and the task ahead of Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford
Manchester United will be without European football for the 2025-26 campaign after their poor Premier League standing and 2025 Europa League final defeat to Spurs.
The Red Devils ended their 2024-25 season in May and Ruben Amorim’s men immediately took part in a post-season tour of Asia for two friendly matches.
Mike Phelan, who was United assistant manager under Sir Alex Ferguson and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, dropped his two cents on the woes currently facing the club.
The 62-year-old former United assistant manager admitted that it is now “really important” for the Red Devils to connect the players, the staff and the fans together.
“What do I think the problems are? We need a long time to answer that question,” he told Sky Sports.
“But I think fundamentally, they need to understand the standard. The standard of what they need to reach, what they need to apply to be successful and coming together.
“Coming together of not just the players, but the staff and the fans and supporters out there all around the world.
“So, it’s really important to connect all those pieces and it takes time. It does take time but ultimately, you are Manchester United and you have to deliver.
“You have to win football matches in order to then be successful.”
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Mike Phelan on what the Man Utd players must prove under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford in the 2025-26 Premier League season
United’s Premier League fixture list for the 2025-26 season arrived on Wednesday and the club face Arsenal at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of the campaign.
Phelan has suggested that the United first-team players under Amorim have one clear-cut expectation of showing “improvement” under him next season.
“The way this season finished has been a disappointment,” he added.
“I think it’s been a disappointment to a lot of people and probably players as well.
“But now they have to start from where they are, and that is to build again.
“If they go any lower, then they’re not in the Premier League but if they improve, then they can gain momentum and be better than what they’ve been this season.
“They have to show some improvement this season.”
United will head off for their pre-season tour in July and August ahead of hosting Arsenal at Old Trafford for their Premier League opener on 17th August.