With four points from three Premier League games and an embarrassing cup exit, Manchester United have had an underwhelming start to the 2025-26 season, raising questions over Ruben Amorim’s position
Michael Owen believes Ruben Amorim will succeed at Manchester United if given time, blaming their struggles on more ‘deep-rooted’ problems. United boss Amorim was appointed in November 2024 and has since won just eight of his 30 Premier League games in charge.
The Portuguese was under huge pressure ahead of the international break before his side snatched a 3-2 win at home to Burnley thanks to Bruno Fernandes‘ 97th-minute penalty. Off the back of the Red Devils’ worst-ever Premier League finish last term which saw them miss out of European football, Amorim was backed with £216.8million worth of signings in the summer transfer window.
Their fortunes are yet to demonstrably change but Owen would ‘absolutely’ stick with Amorim, insisting that the former Sporting Lisbon manager will ‘get it right’. Speaking exclusively to Mirror Football via BetSelect, the ex-United striker was asked if he thinks Amorim is the right man to restore his old club to the Champions League.
“I do,” Owen replied. “I would be pro Amorim. I like what I hear and what I see. I’d like to see quicker progress. And I’m not saying he’s exempt from any criticism at all. I expected him to be doing better sooner.
“United have churned so many great managers that people need to realise that it’s not the managers. There’s something more deep-rooted within the club, the players, the staff, the ownership, the manager, the whole thing has got to grow and improve. That will take a bit of time.
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“Changing the manager every two minutes is going to put them back rather than forward. So I would stick with him. Absolutely. He’s got the right head on his shoulders. It’ll take time, but I think he will get it right in the future.”
Owen went on to argue that barring their humiliating defeat to fourth-tier Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup, United have had a ‘solid enough start’ to what Amorim hopes will be his first full season at Old Trafford. “Grimsby was pretty grim, wasn’t it?” the former England star acknowledged.
“But apart from that, I think it’s been a solid enough start. Being the better team against Arsenal, drawing away at Fulham and beating Burnley, on the face of it, they’re reasonably positive results.
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“Listen, I’m not saying it’s been great, but four points out of three games, it’s not the worst. It’s not the worst start. The Grimsby game was a killer. That was just not pretty at all. That was something that obviously the club didn’t need at all.
“But I like some of the signings that they’ve made and think they’ll be a better team this year. I think there will be progress. It will be slow progress, but they seem to have gone for a few proven players in their business this year and this season.”
The Red Devils will be back in action on Sunday, travelling across town to face bitter rivals Manchester City.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
