Manchester United unveiled revamped Pre-Match routine ahead of Arsenal clash. Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has unveiled the club’s pre-match preparations for home games, scrapping Erik ten Hag’s protocol in favor of a streamlined routine designed to heighten focus and fan engagement. The new approach debuts in Sunday’s Premier League opener against Arsenal at Old Trafford.
From Ten Hag’s Model to Amorim’s Vision
Under ten Hag, players arrived individually at Old Trafford four hours before kick-off, dining at the stadium and utilizing a repurposed hospitality suite as a pre-match lounge. Amorim has abolished this system, instead requiring the squad to:
1. Assemble at Carrington’s £50M training complex for tactical briefings and a unified pre-match meal.
2. Travel together by team bus, arriving at Old Trafford just 105 minutes before kick-off (14:45 BST for the Arsenal match).
Tactical and Psychological Rationale
Amorim emphasized that reducing idle time at the stadium preserves competitive intensity:
“Old Trafford must be the centre of the game, but we cannot spend four hours there waiting… When we arrive, we have to feel the fans and go directly to the game, not killing the momentum”.
The upgraded facilities at Carrington—described by CEO Omar Berrada as performance-enhancing—allow focused tactical work in a controlled environment before transitioning to the matchday atmosphere.
NEW VIDEO: Man Utd vs Arsenal Starting XI
The Premier League is back and its Manchester United against Arsenal at Old Trafford. Yeah, some start to the season this. Sesko, Cunha, Mbeumo, Gyokeres, Zubimendi, Amorim, Arteta. New faces, new season and a big buzz.… pic.twitter.com/JRLks3hi6i
— United Peoples TV (@unitedpeoplestv) August 16, 2025
Fan Experience Unchanged
Despite the adjusted schedule, Amorim confirmed players will continue greeting supporters near the tunnel:
“We know many people wait for autographs. We will try to do the same… It’s the same experience for fans”. This balances squad preparation with maintaining the club’s tradition of player-fan interaction.
Broader Implications
The change expresses Amorim’s active management style that resembles the very deliberate training styles that were witnessed during United’s U.S. preseason tour, and it is also marking a symbolic clean break from the ten Hag chapter as it is opting for the collective rhythm rather than a personal rhythm. United are wanting to enact their revenge after last year’s 15th-place finish and are maximizing ‘everything’ before a match, including pre-match introductions.
The new routine will debut at Old Trafford on August 16 (16:30 BST), with United facing Arsenal for the critical season opener.
Old Trafford, Sunday 16:30 BST | Live on Sky Sports.
Recommended for you