Ruben Amorim says there is a level of entitlement at Manchester United as he defended his comments about the club's academy last week.
Last week, when quizzed on not using academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo, Amorim used Harry Amass and Chido Obi as examples, suggesting they were not at the level required for United at the moment.
Both players then posted pictures on their Instagram accounts, which were subsequently deleted, seemingly in response to Amorim's comments. Amass posted a picture of him with a Player of the Month award at Sheffield Wednesday, while Chido's image was of him celebrating scoring for the U21 side.
When asked about Amass and Obi, Amorim defended his "strong words", suggesting the young players at the club feel "entitled" and the culture needs to change.
What Amorim said about Amass and Obi last week...
Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim after being quizzed on his use of academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo:
"I don't know what is going to be the future [for Mainoo]. Let's see after this match.
"Amass is now struggling in the Championship. Chido (Obi) is not always a starter in Under-21s.
"All these guys played when a lot of people were saying sack the manager!'
"I think it's the feeling of entitlement that we have in our club," Amorim said in his press conference ahead of Man Utd's trip to Aston Villa, live on Sky Sports on Sunday.
"Sometimes strong words are not bad words, sometimes difficult moments is not a bad thing for kids. We don't need to always be accolades in everything, every situation.
"You guys talk about players who speak against clubs because they feel entitlement, then you have legends say if you don't play, leave because everyone is wrong. No, let's stay and fight, let's overcome and maybe the manager is wrong. I have the feeling we need to fight against this feeling.
"I'm the first one to say I'm failing inside the pitch", he added. "I have that feeling. We are not performing the way we should be but outside the pitch I guarantee I'm not failing this club.
"We talk about the players sometimes forget what it means to play for Man Utd, we as a club forget sometimes who we are. That's the feeling that I have.
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Amorim on Mainoo t-shirt
Ruben Amorim shares his reaction to Jordan Mainoo-Hames' 'Free Kobbie Mainoo' t-shirt that he wore in support of his half-brother during United's 4-4 draw with Bournemouth.
"It's the environment, the kids feel entitled and free to respond to the manager with a picture. My office is open but nobody is coming to me. That's the way we can solve things.
"We need to change as a club.
"I didn't say anything wrong, I spoke about how the luck of playing for Man Utd. Sometimes you play for Man Utd and see different realities and you understand football can be so different and you are really lucky to be at Man Utd. That was my point but let's move on."
Amorim insists he has no issue with Kobbie Mainoo
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Amorim on Mainoo t-shirt
Ruben Amorim shares his reaction to Jordan Mainoo-Hames' 'Free Kobbie Mainoo' t-shirt that he wore in support of his half-brother during United's 4-4 draw with Bournemouth.
Meanwhile, Amorim says there is no problem with Mainoo after his half-brother's T-shirt stunt and hopes the Manchester United midfielder fights for his future at the club.
The homegrown 20-year-old talent has gone from FA Cup hero and starting the Euro 2024 final for England to a bench player over the last 18 months.
Mainoo saw a request to leave on loan rejected in August and is still waiting for his first Premier League start of the campaign, leading to speculation he could depart United in the January transfer window.
The midfielder came off the bench in Monday's 4-4 draw with Bournemouth at Old Trafford, where his half-brother Jordan Mainoo-Hames wore a 'Free Kobbie Mainoo' top and later posted about it on social media.
Asked if he has spoken to Mainoo about the incident, boss Amorim laughed and then said: "No, it was not Kobbie that wore the T-shirt.
"He is not going to start because of the T-shirt, but he is not going to the bench because of the T-shirt. He is going to play if we feel that he is the right guy to play. That is not an issue.
"I am used to (it). I am here for a year. It's not new, so we have to deal with that, but I am not going to do something to Kobbie because someone in his family is doing something."