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Ruben Amorim to address fans, Manchester United players to do lap of honour after season's final game

Ruben Amorim to address fans, Manchester United players to do lap of honour after season's final game

New York Times24-05-2025

Ruben Amorim will address Manchester United supporters and players will do a lap of honour following the final game of the season on Sunday.
United host Aston Villa at Old Trafford to conclude a hugely disappointing season where they will finish in their lowest position of the Premier League era.
Amorim, who The Athletic revealed on Saturday has told his players he will remain in charge next season, hasn't yet decided what he will say but is conscious of the need to be 'honest' with fans after a trying year.
'An apology I think is clear, an explanation; you don't have time,' he said when asked at his press conference what tone he will strike. 'So we will try to be honest. I think I will be honest with the fans and I will say what is in my mind and what is in my heart.'
Teams traditionally take time to thank supporters on the pitch following the final game of a campaign and despite the lows 2024-25 has encompassed, Amorim knows the importance of doing so.
'We will do that, it's tradition and we have to face it,' he said. 'I think it will be the biggest mistake if we don't do that. We will do that.
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'I know that the manager addresses the public, I will do that because it's the minimal, the least I can do is to talk with the fans and to say what I want to say.
'I will decide tomorrow, I have an idea, so we will do that because if there is a season that we need to do it, it's this one, and of course we will be there.'
United were 14th in the league and seven points off the top four when Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag in November. With one game to play the side sit 16th, 27 points shy of the Champions League qualification places.
Despite the many damning statistics Amorim insists the club are in 'a better place' with a more positive foundation for the future.
'I think it's healthier, it's a way to put it,' he added. 'You cannot see it with the results, we have worse results, but I think we are in a better place as a club with the small things that will be big things in the future, so it's hard to explain everything. I don't want to touch on every point, but yes, we are in a better place.'
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