Ruben Amorim’s brutal honesty has been a theme of his Manchester United interviews so far, and the latest one might just take the cake.
Ahead of a busier fixture list in the festive period, Ruben Amorim fielded many questions about his squad usage and those at the fringes of it.
From Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee in the senior team to Shea Lacey and Jack Fletcher in the academy, he was eager to clarify the status of many.
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Amid this, he made a brutally honest admission that he had already played one Man Utd player sooner than deserved or he was ready for, and that poses unexpected challenges.
Chido Obi of Manchester United U21 in action during the Premier League 2 match between Manchester United U21 and Tottenham Hotspur U21 at Progress with Unity Stadium on October 25, 2025
Photo by Poppy Townson – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images
Ruben Amorim’s brutally honest Chido Obi admission
Chido Obi joined Man Utd last summer despite interest from many clubs across Europe, and common logic dictated that it was because he was promised a first-team pathway.
Therefore, when he became a first-team member near the end of last season and played multiple games, it was seen as a natural progression.
However, this season, he has gone back to the U21s to work on his game, garnering rave reviews for his development and professionalism.
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That didn’t stop Amorim from making it clear to him that last season’s expanded role was borne out of pure necessity, and he shouldn’t think he has “arrived”.
He said: “He [Obi] played last year, but I think it was too soon. We didn’t have the team to integrate a 16-year-old into without him encountering difficulties, or very few. He started too early, and that’s sometimes difficult to manage with young players because they think, ‘I’ve already succeeded.’ No, you’re there out of necessity, and we also have to be careful about that with young players.”
Amorim’s hardline management will bear long-term fruit
There is justified frustration among the Man Utd fans about Amorim being reticent about using academy players, and this quote about Obi is unlikely to quell that feeling.
However, as seen in the case of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, or the media circus around Kobbie Mainoo, giving youngsters too much too soon has negative consequences.
Amorim is keen to make sure the youngsters stay grounded and feel grateful for the opportunity to play for Man Utd, instead of feeling that they’re owed those opportunities.
It is frustrating right now because most people chase the excitement of seeing a new player on the pitch, regardless of the long-term repercussions.
Amorim is thinking long-term, because this style of management will create model professionals, and those who aren’t will get weeded out naturally.
Amorim’s brutal honesty on Obi is not a judgment on his potential, but rather his reality right now.