Manchester United take on Fulham in their first away game of the Premier League season this weekend.
Sean McCormick is a content editor across our North East and Yorkshire football clubs. He was previously a Newcastle United reporter, a trends writer covering both the Magpies and Sunderland AFC, as well as a football content editor at the Manchester Evening News. He also writes about darts and boxing. He joined us in 2016.
Manchester United Manager Ruben Amorim during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Manchester United FC at Craven Cottage on January 26, 2025 in London, England
Ruben Amorim has not held back since arriving at Manchester United
(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
When Manchester United appointed Ruben Amorim as their new head coach in November last year, United fans had been warned that he pulled no punches in press conferences.
Amorim's straight talking demeanour is one of the qualities that most struck co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who revealed the pair share a 'blunt' but 'really good' relationship.
"I really, really like Ruben," Ratcliffe said back in March.
"He’s a very thoughtful guy. Every time I go to the training ground, I speak to Ruben.
"I sit down and have a cup of coffee with him and tell him where it’s going wrong, and he tells me to f*** off. I like him."
And that refreshing approach has made him a much more quotable manager in press conferences, as evidenced when United last visited Sunday's opponents Fulham at Craven Cottage in January.
A deflected Lisandro Martinez goal earned a United a hard fought 1-0 win in west London but the post-match questions surrounded the continued absence of Marcus Rashford, who had not made an appearance for United in over a month.
Amorim had not been impressed by Rashford on the training ground and stunned reporters with his brutal explanation of why he was not planning to recall the England international to his squad.
"It’s the same, it’s always the same reason. The reason is the training, the way I see what footballers should do in training, in life, it’s every day, every detail.
"So if things don’t change, I will not change. It’s the same situation for every player. If you do the maximum, if you do the right things, we can use every player.
"And you can see it today on the bench, we miss a little bit of pace to go and change the game, move some pieces. But I prefer it like that. I will put [Jorge] Vital [United's 63-year-old goalkeeping coach] on before I put a player on that don’t give the maximum every day.
"So I will not change in that department."
That honesty was appreciated by supporters. Less so by Rashford, who was shipped off on loan to Aston Villa just days later.
United reiterated the observation was applicable to all players and not just Rashford, and now United have a number of players in their 'bomb squad' they are looking to offload.
United have welcomed five new senior signings since Amorim's appointment. Patrick Dorgu joined in January, while Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Diego Leon and Benjamin Sesko have joined this summer.
While all those players bring obvious qualities, Amorim has spoken highly about their character away from the pitch, too.
"It is a key point in our way to do things now," Amorim said when discussing why United signed Mbeumo and Cunha.
"It's not just how they play, it's really important of course, but the character is really important.
"We took a lot of time to know the players, to talk with everybody before we bring a player to our group. That is going to be massive in our decision to bring players."
Despite defeat on the opening weekend to Arsenal, United looked much stronger than they did last season. Cunha and Mbeumo were not only threatening in forward areas but led the press expertly, too.
Wins are the most important currency, though, and they must find that elusive first one of the season at Craven Cottage.
Seven months on from one of Amorim's most famous press conference quotes, he will want his words to be vindicated by the actions of his new-look team built in his image.