The Manchester United brand takes a beating in Kuala Lumpur

New Straits Times

29-05-2025

MANCHESTER United's post-season tour was meant to be a parade of prestige — a money-spinning, brand-bolstering roadshow through Asia.
Instead, it turned into a public relations disaster, as United's overpaid and underperforming stars were humbled 1-0 by a disciplined, determined Asean XI in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
Let's be clear.
The Asean players are no amateurs. They are professionals from the top leagues of Southeast Asia, but they do not earn as much and enjoy global recognition, unlike United players.
But with just one training session together and many of the region's stars unavailable due to World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers, this wasn't even the best the region had to offer.
Yet it was still enough to send Manchester United crashing to a defeat that sent shockwaves across the footballing world.
The result wasn't just a minor upset. It was a stark indictment of where United stand today — bloated, directionless and completely devoid of urgency.
The Red Devils were just rubbish. The Asean XI, under the guidance of South Korean coach Kim Sang Sik, played with structure and belief. They pressed intelligently, defended as a unit, and seized their moment when Myanmar's Maung Maung Lwin calmly slotted home the winner in the 71st minute — a goal he'll dine out on for the rest of his life.
This wasn't just a training match for them. It was a chance to showcase Southeast Asian football on the world stage, and they took it with both hands.
What made the loss more humiliating for United is the vast disparity in resources and salaries.
Bruno Fernandes alone earns in the region of £300,000 a week, more than most of the Asean XI would make in two or three years.
Add in Casemiro, Harry Maguire, Andre Onana, Alejandro Garnacho, and the wage bill becomes obscene. And yet, despite all the money, Manchester United barely created anything.
Ruben Amorim, the man hired to modernise the team and revive their identity, watched on as his side shuffled the ball around with no plan, no penetration, and no pride.
The same tactical confusion that cost them in the Premier League and Europe was on full display against opponents with a fraction of their preparation time.
The scenes were surreal.
The National Stadium in Bukit Jalil was packed with over 72,000 supporters, many of them die-hard United fans, singing "Glory, Glory, Man United" in desperate hope of sparking a response. But the likes of Fernandes and Garnacho looked like they were still on the plane.
Even Sergio Aguero — not the Man City legend, but the Malaysian naturalised striker of the same name — played with more purpose.
He captained the Asean XI and gave United's defenders a hard time with clever movement and link-up play. It begs the question.
And in the closing minutes of the match, fans booed their United heroes, showing their anger and frustration.
What does this United squad stand for anymore?
The side that came to Malaysia in 2009, led by the likes of Nani, Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, would have dismantled a team like this. But that was an era of standards. Now, the Red Devils are a global brand before it is a football club.
And make no mistake — this tour is about money. The club are reportedly raking in £8 million from these games against the Asean XI and Hong Kong. Commercially, it's a win. Football-wise, it's a disaster.
United's players had barely recovered from their last Premier League match against Aston Villa and the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Then came a long flight, followed by a day packed with sponsorship appearances, including a bus parade in Kuala Lumpur and media duties.
By Wednesday night, they looked flat, uninterested and ultimately beaten. Some will dismiss the result as meaningless. Just another friendly.
But in modern football, image matters.
Results like these don't just bruise egos, they dent the brand. Losing to a lesser-known, regional side, invites questions about commitment, quality, and leadership.
And for Southeast Asian football, this was a landmark moment. Too often mocked or overlooked, the region now has a marquee scalp. Young fans in Jakarta, Manila, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur now have proof that their stars can compete with the best and beat them.
For Man United, it's a reminder that global tours aren't just photo ops, they're performances.
And if the players aren't up for it, they're not just wasting time, they're damaging a once-great name.
The Asean XI didn't just win a match — they sent a message.
United, meanwhile, are stuck in a cycle of excuses, fatigue, and false dawns. Once feared across Europe, now beaten in Bukit Jalil.
It was meant to be a celebration; it turned into a lesson. And that lesson is simple: you can't just wear the badge, you have to honour it.
For now, Man United fans can remain in their caves, still talking about the glory days until the club show more promise in the years to come.