Ruben Amorim has defended his comments about the club’s academy last week, saying Manchester United have certain rights.
Last week, when asked about not using academy product Koby Mainu, Amorim pointed to Harry Amath and Chido Obi as examples, suggesting they are not at the level required by United at the moment.
Both players subsequently posted photos on their Instagram accounts, but they appeared to be in response to Amorim’s comments and were later deleted. Amas posted a picture of him winning the Player of the Month award at Sheffield Wednesday, while Chido’s image was of him celebrating a goal for the Under-21 team.
When asked about Amas and Obi, Amorim defended his “strong words” and suggested that the club’s young players felt “entitled” and that the culture needed to change.
“I think it’s a sense of entitlement that we have at the club,” Amorim told a press conference ahead of Manchester United’s trip to Aston Villa, live on Sky Sports on Sunday.
“Sometimes strong words aren’t bad words, and sometimes difficult moments aren’t bad for a child. They don’t always need to be praised for everything and in every situation.
“You talk about players who go against the club because they feel entitled. And there’s a legend that if you don’t play because everyone’s wrong, get out. No, let’s stay and fight, let’s overcome, and maybe the manager is wrong. I feel we need to fight this feeling.”
Chido Obi did a special feature on the Amorim side.
Harry Ammas is currently on loan
“I’m the first to say we’re failing on the pitch,” he added. “I feel that way. We haven’t performed as well as we should have, but I can assure you that we have not disqualified this club off the pitch.”
“We’re saying that sometimes the players forget what it means to play for Man United and sometimes we as a club forget who we are. That’s how I feel.”
“It’s because of the environment. The kids feel they have the right to respond freely with photos to the manager. My office is open, but no one comes to me. That’s how we can solve the problem.”
“We need to change as a club.
“I didn’t say anything wrong. I talked about how lucky I am to play for Man Utd. Sometimes you see a different reality when you play for Man Utd, you understand how football can be so different and you’re really lucky to be at Man Utd. That was what I was saying, let’s move on.”
Amorim insists there is nothing wrong with Mainu
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Amorim has described his reaction to the ‘Free Coby Mainu’ T-shirt worn by Jordan Mainu Hames to support his half-brother during United’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth.
Meanwhile, Amorim said he has no problem with Mainu after his half-brother’s T-shirt stunt and hopes the Manchester United midfielder will fight for his future at the club.
The 20-year-old homegrown talent has gone from being an FA Cup hero and starter for England in the Euro 2024 final to being a bench player in the last 18 months.
There is growing speculation that Maynou could leave United in the January transfer window, as he is still awaiting his first Premier League start after his request to leave on loan was rejected in August.
The midfielder came on as a substitute in Monday’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth at Old Trafford, during which his half-brother Jordan Mainu Hames wore a Free Coby Mainu top, which he later posted about on social media.
Asked if he had spoken to Mainu about the incident, Amorim laughed and said, “No, it wasn’t Kobi who was wearing the T-shirt.
“He’s not going to start because of the T-shirt, but he’s not going to be on the bench because of the T-shirt. If we feel he’s the right player to play, he’ll play. It doesn’t matter.”
“I’m used to (it). I’ve been here a year. It’s not new so we have to deal with it, but I’m not going to do anything to Koby just because someone in his family is doing something.”
Analysis: Amorim’s ‘eventful’ press conference
Sky Sports News reporter Dan Khan:
It felt like a message to the locker room.
When asked this week about the situation around Bruno Fernandes and Koby Mainu, Amorim reiterated how his office is always open for players to speak to him.
When asked about two young players, Amas and Obi, posting messages on social media last week that appeared to be against Amorim, who spoke of his lack of involvement with the first team this season (both posts have since been deleted), he spoke about the sense of entitlement of the young players in the team.
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Ruben Amorim says ‘everything is clear’ after recent interview about Bruno Fernandes’ future
He repeated the word “rights.”
It’s hard to disagree with the United manager. Obi played in seven games last season, while Amas played in five for the first team.
Amass has continued to develop on loan at Sheffield Wednesday this season, and the club believe this loan will greatly improve his prospects at the club, particularly his defensive qualities.
Obi has seen him play many times for the Under-21s and there is still plenty of room for improvement, with academy coaches looking for more off-the-ball and build-up play.
However, like other players last season, both got their chance due to multiple injuries in the team, with the Europa League as their priority. This is what Mr. Amorim tried to explain last week, and today he explained it in more detail.
Academy players such as Shea Lacey and Jack Fletcher are likely to perform well over the next month, and expect some to be on the bench on Sunday with Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire injured, Casemiro suspended and Amad, Brian Mbeumo and Nouseir Mazraoui set to travel to AFCON.
