Manchester United are ready to kick-off their Premier League season against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
Man Utd midfielder Mason Mount.
(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Man Utd midfielder Mason Mount.
The wait is almost over for Manchester United fans with the new Premier League season a matter of days away.
For supporters, there is a sense of cautious optimism that the club can return themselves to the right end of the Premier League table. While a Premier League title battle is unlikely, finishing up in either the Champions League - or Europa League - places has to be the priority for Ruben Amorim and his players this season.
The optimism sparked within United fans has mainly been created owing to the decisions made by Amorim over the summer - particularly to have a no-nonsense approach to the players who declared their wishes to leave Old Trafford.
The so-called 'Bomb Squad' consists of Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia at present. Marcus Rashford was a member, but managed to secure a move to Barcelona on loan.
The quartet that remains in Manchester have been subjected to drastic measures by Amorim and the club. They have been instructed to arrive at Carrington later than their teammates to conduct individual training schedules away from the main group.
The Manchester Evening News understands the decision to isolate the players who want out has been welcomed by the group on the whole - and that point appears to have been proven by Mason Mount's pre-Arsenal interview. Speaking to United's official club website, he gave a clear two-word verdict on this campaign: "Clean slate.
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"It's a clean slate - and we're so excited to be able to have that opportunity," Mount said. "A lot of people have said a lot of stuff about us as a group, and we ball that up and we use that energy in the best way we can, and that's on the football pitch against other teams, and really competing and fighting for those three points.
"Last season wasn't the standard we know we can all be at and perform at, and as players you want to put it right. There's just that hunger there - and it's just the anticipation of wanting to go, and waiting for that first opportunity - which is that first game."
If Amorim had decided to integrate those players who wanted out, it would - perhaps - be an admission that the club were still holding on to last season and the problems that accompanied it. Instead, they have chosen to wipe the slate clean, streamlined the squad somewhat and it feels the group is in a better place for it.
Our chief United writer Samuel Luckhurst noted how much better the feeling was in the tour group this summer - compared to recent years. For United's sake, let's hope that feel good factor translates on the pitch.
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