Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim struck the right chord when he made his end-of-the-season speech at Old Trafford.
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Ruben Amorim gives a post-season speech. (Image: 2025 Manchester United FC)
On Saturday, Ruben Amorim confirmed he would make a speech after the Aston Villa game.
The response to that news from Manchester United fans was predictable and understandable. "Don't bother," one wrote on social media. "This guy talks too much," another wrote.
There was a strong suspicion that Old Trafford would become toxic after the final whistle against Aston Villa and that thousands of fans would leave before Amorim started speaking.
However, the performance on the pitch was one of the best of Amorim's tenure and the campaign ended with a 2-0 win. That helped the mood at Old Trafford and contributed to a strong turnout for the speech.
Amorim made a few deliberate pauses throughout his address and struck the right chords.
"First of all, I want to apologise for this season," Amorim said. "I know you are really disappointed with me and really disappointed with the team.
"Secondly, I want to say thank you. We are very grateful for your support during the season, and I know that was really hard. I know that it was really hard to watch us suffer in many games.
"But now, we have to make a choice, or we stay stuck in the past because this season is in the past; it's over. We fight each other, or we stick together and move forward.
"Six months ago, after my first three games in charge with two victories and one draw, I said to you, 'the storm is coming'. Today, after this disastrous season, I want to tell you the good days are coming.
"If there is one club in the world that has proven in the past that can overcome any situation, any disaster, it is our club. It is Manchester United football club.
"Now I want to say sorry also to my players. Sometimes I was not fair, but I tried always to be honest with you guys.
"Thank you very much, see you next season."
Amorim spoke to fans on the pitch.
The reception to Amorim's speech might have been slightly different if United had lost, but the content was well thought out and helped create optimism for next season.
United have reached rock bottom and surely cannot sink any lower. They have come through the storm, bruised and battered, and Amorim was right to draw a line in the sand and look forward.
While there was a chance of Old Trafford becoming toxic and Amorim maybe even being heckled after the game, instead he stirred up hope and got supporters onside.
Amorim is a hugely impressive communicator and has excelled in press conferences, but words don't win points in the Premier League and he must hit the ground running next season.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Amorim conceded that facing immense pressure at the start of next season would be normal. "That is a risk when I started six months ago," he said.
"If you start now you can have a pre-season and that season will be the first season. I have to deliver next year. I am really confident we are going to play better and get more results. It will take time. We will suffer again but we need to have better results, that’s for sure
"I am really excited to finish the season. I am really excited to start again. We cannot lose any time. We need to prepare the pre-season. In the next years we will have World Cup, so will not have time to take advantage of that. We will have some changes in our squad."
United would probably be the Premier League champions if the league title were decided by whose manager had the strongest communication skills. Maybe Ange Postecoglou would give Amorim a run for his money.
Amorim's words will ultimately not matter if United begin next season poorly, though.