Former Man United utility player Ashley Young believes it is crucial the club makes a strong start to the 2025/26 campaign.
Ruben Amorim barks out an instruction from the Old Trafford touchline.
Ruben Amorim will be keen to hit the ground running next month. (Image: Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images.)
Former Manchester United ace Ashley Young has said it is "now or never" for Ruben Amorim to make his mark at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese head coach was appointed United boss last November and was unable to make the immediate impact he would have dreamt of in M16, leading his side to a 15th-placed finish in the Premier League.
Having missed out on European qualification for the upcoming season after losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao in May, United will be hoping fewer fixtures will boost their chances of climbing the Premier League table in 2025/26.
This summer's transfer window is key to that ambition and United have made a relatively slow start to proceedings, overseeing just one statement signing so far. It is hoped the situation will improve as the summer continues to unfold.
But in the opinion of Young, who spent nine years at Old Trafford, Amorim has got to hit the ground running at the start of the new campaign come what may.
Appearing on Sky Sports, Young said: "I think Amorim has got his way and his style of coaching his tactics and the way he wants to set up the team.
"We saw that he didn't want to come in at the time that he did; he wanted to be in at the start of the season. It was going to be tough either way when you come in halfway through a season.
"I am sure any manager would say it's a tough ask. And when you're joining the biggest club in the world, and where they were at, it was going to be even harder.
"I think it has been said that you are going to have to give him time; he needs time and how many transfer windows? Who knows.
Ruben Amorim makes his speech on the Old Trafford pitch.
Ruben Amorim is desperate to bring in new signings.
(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images.)
"You have got to set your marker, put your stamp down, as soon as you start this season. I don't think that anyone can give him anymore excuses.
"It is now or never, really, to be honest. He has got to have a good pre-season with the team, work out what his team is, what his best team is, what players fit into the system, unless he is going to change the system, but you can't see him changing the formation that he has been playing.
"It is going to be intriguing to see what happens after this pre-season."
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