Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has opened up about the doubts and struggles he faced during his difficult first year at Old Trafford, admitting that last season’s failures left him questioning his ability to lead the club.
As Amorim marks his one-year anniversary as Manchester United manager this weekend when his team faces Nottingham Forest, he reflected on a turbulent debut campaign that tested both his resolve and confidence.
United endured a dismal 2024/25 season, finishing a disappointing 15th in the Premier League, losing the Europa League final, and managing just one win in their first five league matches of the new campaign.
“There were some moments that were tough to deal with,” Amorim confessed.
“Losing so many games was so hard for me because this is Manchester United. The position we had last year, putting all the attention on the Europa League and not winning it, that was massive.
I struggled a lot and thought maybe it wasn’t meant to be.”
However, the atmosphere around Old Trafford has changed dramatically in recent weeks.
United have won five of their last seven Premier League matches, including impressive victories over Chelsea and Liverpool, climbing to sixth place and reigniting their European qualification hopes.
“Today it’s the opposite,” Amorim continued. “Now I feel it was the best decision of my life. I want to be here, but for that, I need to keep winning, starting with Nottingham Forest.”
The 39-year-old Portuguese tactician, who took over from Erik ten Hag in 2024, said his first season forced him to grow stronger mentally and to understand the magnitude of managing one of the world’s biggest football clubs.
Despite the recent upturn, Amorim warned his team against complacency, stressing that maintaining consistency will be key to Manchester United’s long-term revival.
“It’s hard to say that the tough times are over,” he said. “Football is full of ups and downs. I trust my players more, and they trust me more.
We are in a better place now, and we feel that, but we must stay alert and pay attention to the details.”
Moreover, the United boss noted that while the results have improved, the team must continue to build confidence and discipline to avoid slipping back into old habits.
