A defiant Ruben Amorim promised “the good days are coming” after apologising for Manchester United’s “disaster season”, which ended in 15th place after their 2-0 win against Aston Villa on Sunday.
After the game the head coach addressed the fans on the Old Trafford pitch. “First of all I want to apologise for this season,” he said. “I know you are very disappointed with me and with the team. I want secondly to say: ‘Thank you.’
“We are very grateful for your support during the season. Now we have to make a choice or we stay stuck in the past because this season is in the past. We either fight each other or we stick together and move forward.
“Six months ago in my first three games in charge, with two victories and one draw I said: ‘The storm is coming.’ Today after this disaster season I want to tell you: ‘The good days are coming.’ If there is one club that has proved in the past they can overcome any situation or any disaster it is our club, it is Manchester United. Now I also want to say to my players sometimes I was not fair but I always try to be honest to you guys. Thank you very much, see you next season.”
In the post-game media conference, Amorim was asked whether he would be under particular pressure at the start of next season. “That is normal, that [was] a risk when I started six months ago. If you start now you can have a pre-season and [next] season will be the first season. So I have to deliver next year. I am really confident we are going to play better and get more results. It will take time. We will suffer again but we need to have better results, that’s for sure.
“I am really excited to finish the season. I am really excited to start again. We cannot lose any time. We need to prepare in the pre-season. In the next year we will have a World Cup so will not have time to take advantage of that. We will have some changes in our squad.”
Alejandro Garnacho was left out of the matchday squad after his comments that questioned his starting every Europa League knockout game but getting only “20 minutes” of the 1-0 final defeat against Tottenham on Wednesday. Amorim was asked whether the winger, whom United are willing to sell and was part of the post-match lap of appreciation, would be at the club next season. “Garnacho is one more player of United,” he said. “I don’t know what will happen in the future.”
