Man Utd stars 'quizzed on holidays' and face axe if pre-season targets not met
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim is planning an intense pre-season as he looks to turn things around after the Red Devils' worst-ever Premier League campaign
Ruben Amorim is set to take a hardline approach with his squad as they look to bounce back from a disappointing season. Manchester United endured their worst-ever Premier League campaign as they finished 15th and they also lost the Europa League final to Tottenham.
United are set for a major overhaul this summer as Amorim looks to refresh his squad and the former Sporting boss is also planning an intense pre-season to ensure his players are ready to go when the new season starts.
According to the Sun, non-international players are expected to return to Carrington 'earlier than normal' and some could even be back in training before the end of June. Amorim is said to be demanding 'sky high' fitness levels from his players and that he is ready to axe them if they do not meet his standards.
It is claimed Amorim has even asked his players about their holiday plans, with the Portuguese attempting to leave no stone unturned as he bids to turn things around. The report adds that he wants United to start the season strong as rivals Manchester City and Chelsea could have a 'disrupted' start to their campaign due to the Club World Cup.
The final of the revamped tournament takes place on July 13, just one month before the new season starts. A club source is quoted as saying: "Amorim needs a good pre-season. He's not shied away from the pressure he's under.
"He would have always preferred to have arrived at United ahead of a new season rather than in the middle of it. He has to get this right. He's told the players there are no more excuses. His job is on the line — and so too is theirs. The club can't accept any more failures."
After United's final game of the season, a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford, Amorim delivered an impassioned speech to supporters where he promised them that "the good days are coming".
He said: "I want to apologise for this season. I know you are really disappointed with me and with the team. The second thing I want to say is thank-you. We are very grateful for your support during the season, which I know was really bad.
"It was really hard in many games, but now, for me, we have to make a choice – stay stuck in the past - because this season is in the past, it's over. We fight each other or we stick together and move forward.
"Six months ago, in my first three games in charge, with two victories and one draw, I said to you the storm is coming, Today, after this disastrous season, I want to tell you - the good days are coming.
"If there is one club in the word that can overcome any situation, any disaster it is our club, Manchester United. I also want to say thank-you to my players. Sometimes I am not fair, but always I try to be honest with you. Thank you very much, see you next season."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
40 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Chelsea complete signing of Liam Delap from Ipswich
An agreement was reached between the clubs last week for the England under-21 international, who becomes the Blues' first summer signing and can join immediately due to FIFA's 10-day June transfer window. That will enable him to take part in the upcoming Club World Cup in the United States, though if he travels with the team it will means he will miss the European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia. It's official. ✍️ — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 4, 2025 The 22-year-old said on the club's official website: 'I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach. 'It's going to be an incredible place for me to develop and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies.' Chelsea reportedly fended off interest from Manchester United, with the lack of European football next season for the Old Trafford side understood to be a factor in the player's decision to pick west London. Enzo Maresca's side will play in the Champions League after finishing fourth in his first season in charge, the first time the club has qualified for Europe's top competition since 2022. Delap's signing means the pair will be reunited after working together with Manchester City's under-23 team while Maresca was in charge during the 2020/21 season, and latterly with the senior squad when the Italian was assistant to Pep Guardiola. A post shared by Chelsea FC (@chelseafc) Delap made only six first-team appearances for City, scoring once, before loan spells with Stoke, Preston and Hull. Despite Ipswich's relegation from the Premier League, which made his release clause active, he adapted quickly to the top flight by scoring 12 times in his first full season in the division – comfortably his best goal return – having spent most of his senior career in the Championship. Chelsea have been stretched thin in attack this season, with injuries to Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu leaving the team without a fit striker for periods of the campaign. Of those two, only Jackson has scored in the Premier League and the need for credible competition and support for the Senegal international has long been apparent.
South Wales Guardian
40 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Man City close on Tijjani Reijnders as Jack Grealish looks set to miss CWC squad
City are set to pay 55million euros (approximately £46million) for the 26-year-old Reijnders, who has agreed a five-year contract to move to the Premier League. The formalities of the deal are still to be completed but it appears City have landed their first major summer signing. A century of appearances in two seasons! Absolute stalwart 💪👏#GenoaMilan #SempreMilan — AC Milan (@acmilan) May 5, 2025 Reijnders was a bright spark in a disappointing season for Milan, who only finished eighth in Serie A, missing out on qualification for Europe. Reijnders, who joined the Italian giants from AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2023, scored 15 goals in 2024-25 and will bolster Pep Guardiola's midfield options following the departure of Kevin De Bruyne. City will play their first match of the Club World Cup against Morocco's Wydad AC on June 18 and the arrival of Reijnders could also impact the future of Grealish at City. As first reported by the Daily Telegraph on Wednesday, the England international looks set to miss out on City's final 35-man squad for the Club World Cup. This comes after the 29-year-old was not summoned from the bench in last month's FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace and omitted from the squad for the last game of the season at Fulham altogether. Grealish, a £100million signing from Aston Villa four years ago, has fallen down the pecking order since playing a starring role in the 2023 treble-winning campaign and made just seven Premier League starts in 2024-25. Not being involved in this summer's tournament in the United States – in which City also play group games against Al Ain of Abu Dhabi and Juventus – could increase speculation over his future with other clubs reportedly interested. Another midfielder who will not feature in the US is Mateo Kovacic, who has been ruled out following Achilles surgery.
North Wales Chronicle
41 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Chelsea complete signing of Liam Delap from Ipswich
An agreement was reached between the clubs last week for the England under-21 international, who becomes the Blues' first summer signing and can join immediately due to FIFA's 10-day June transfer window. That will enable him to take part in the upcoming Club World Cup in the United States, though if he travels with the team it will means he will miss the European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia. It's official. ✍️ — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 4, 2025 The 22-year-old said on the club's official website: 'I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach. 'It's going to be an incredible place for me to develop and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies.' Chelsea reportedly fended off interest from Manchester United, with the lack of European football next season for the Old Trafford side understood to be a factor in the player's decision to pick west London. Enzo Maresca's side will play in the Champions League after finishing fourth in his first season in charge, the first time the club has qualified for Europe's top competition since 2022. Delap's signing means the pair will be reunited after working together with Manchester City's under-23 team while Maresca was in charge during the 2020/21 season, and latterly with the senior squad when the Italian was assistant to Pep Guardiola. A post shared by Chelsea FC (@chelseafc) Delap made only six first-team appearances for City, scoring once, before loan spells with Stoke, Preston and Hull. Despite Ipswich's relegation from the Premier League, which made his release clause active, he adapted quickly to the top flight by scoring 12 times in his first full season in the division – comfortably his best goal return – having spent most of his senior career in the Championship. Chelsea have been stretched thin in attack this season, with injuries to Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu leaving the team without a fit striker for periods of the campaign. Of those two, only Jackson has scored in the Premier League and the need for credible competition and support for the Senegal international has long been apparent.
