Manchester United lost 2-0 to West Ham in the second-to-last Premier League match, directly at Old Trafford, and dropped to 16th position. Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen scored, one in each half, as the visitors had 40 points and moved ahead of United, who remain on 39. The London club moved into 15th position, and United holds lower in the table, but they're no longer at risk of relegation.
The home defeat added pressure to the team and justified coach Ruben Amorim's words, when he spoke clearly and did not hide his frustration. He once again emphasized that the problem is more than results on the pitch. The Portuguese manager arrived at the club in November 2024 and had already experienced hard times, like a series of three consecutive home losses, which had not happened in the club since the 1978/79 season.
United need to make an attitude adjustment
After the game against West Ham, Amorim unambiguously put forward the feelings about the atmosphere within the club and suggested that he would leave his position if deep changes are not made. The coach put it across that the fearfulness that has been displayed on the pitch is an indication of a culture that needs to change urgently.
The lack of accountability and focus in Premier League matches, especially regarding how they performed in the Europa League, is something that has to be rectified as quickly as possible. Even though they earned a place in the top flight of English football next term, the impression given by the performance of the team is one of dismay.
"Here in this club, whether we win or lose in the Europa League does not matter. The problems are far greater. And what if we cannot put things right? It is something to work on on and off the pitch. If we cannot do it, we must leave and make way for others. All of us."
Europa League was United's savior
The language was candid. Amorim employed the Europa League as an example where the team still shows a bit more focus, although, in his view, they do not necessarily play well. To him, the contrast between the competitions is clear evidence that the issue is not a psychological one.
"I think, of course, it's another derby, but in Europa League we did not play so good, but we did have a little pressure. We can't lose these games, we must win, we were able to find the way to win the games to qualify… If Athletic Club gets disqualified, we take advantage, we're very focused.". And you see these matches in the Premier League, at times we're not focused. And we don't have that feeling that we need to win in order to progress, as we do in the Europa League, so it's something in the mind [wrong] in our team.
All season, Manchester United experienced highs and lows. The Premier League season was a season of inconsistency, lack of stability, and games that left the supporters wondering about everything. Through it all, the team managed not to get relegated, something at some point was discussed openly about.
Amorim on thin ice?
Up to this point during his sojourn at the club, Amorim has warned more than once about the squad's mentality. He has, on other occasions, maintained that the team seemed not to understand the sense of urgency of things and that this impacted not just results but also the image of the club.
Despite a season that turned out to be a disappointment in the league, Manchester United is still alive in the Europa League. The European competition had turned out to be the only genuine hope for a title this season, and Amorim has utilized the last part of the season as a last gasp to try to save the year with silverware.
But the coach has already said that even with the opportunity to raise a trophy, more reflection is needed. It won't be worth it if we win a European competition if the attitude of the team does not change. He solidified that by saying, "The culture of the team. I have this feeling: we need to change that. We need to be really strong in the summer and brave. Because we won't have another season like this one."
His words were blunt that the next step depends on the club. Amorim didn't say flatly he will leave, but he hinted he doesn't want to live through another 2024/25 if things continue as they are in the environment and in the way the team plays.