Manchester United were beaten 1-0 by an ASEAN All-Stars side in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, with the Red Devils' players and manager booed by a large section of the 72,000 crowd
Anwar Ibrahim and Harry Maguire
Manchester United have been savaged by Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim
The Malaysian prime minister has issued a brutal warning to Manchester United, suggesting they might face relegation after a surprising post-season defeat.
The Red Devils travelled to Southeast Asia earlier this week for a lucrative exhibition tour. On Wednesday, they clashed with an ASEAN All-Stars squad in Kuala Lumpur, suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat.
Many among the 72,000 spectators expressed their disappointment with loud boos after the final whistle. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who attended the match at Bukit Jalil National Stadium, aimed a harsh remark at the visiting English giants after the game.
In a savage post on Facebook, he wrote: "Oh no! Manchester United failed to win a trophy again. Looks like you guys are going to have a 'headache' next season. Hopefully, you don't get relegated to the Championship."
United ended their latest Premier League campaign in a disastrous 15th place, having endured a staggering 18 losses. Despite the poor run, they still managed to stay 17 points above the relegation line and reach the Europa League final
But Ruben Amorim's men failed to book a return to the Champions League after losing to Spurs in Bilbao. Reflecting on the Malaysian fans' jeers, Amorim acknowledged that the criticism could ultimately be constructive.
Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar Ibrahim fired a brutal dig at Manchester United after the game
"I feel always guilty. I said that in the last game. I am always guilty of the performance of the team no matter and since I am here in the first day, I am guilty," he said.
"Then the boos from the fans, I think it's something that we need maybe because every game that we lost in the Premier League they were always there [cheering us]. So, it's like the way of playing. If they see that it's not working, they will change the way they behave. But I felt then when we finished and we walk away, like every time, the supporters were with us. Let's wait for the next season."
Ruben Amorim watching his Man United side warming up
Ruben Amorim watched his Man United side lose to the ASEAN All Stars on Wednesday
United are set to play again on Friday, with a fixture against the Hong Kong national team. They also have several pre-season matches lined up in preparation for the new campaign.
Their upcoming schedule includes games against Premier League sides Leeds, West Ham, Bournemouth, and Everton. Fiorentina will also face United shortly before the 2025/26 season begins.