How Man Utd Will Surprise Everyone
Let’s talk about Man Utd season preview. Last season was a disappointment on every level for them, as they finished 15th. The most disappointing result for them was losing to Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Europa League Final. At the start of the 24/25 season of the Premier League, Manchester United fans and the club had high hopes, but this all came crashing down. But the new season of 25/26 brings high hopes again, but with new ambitions and a new style of play with new players. In this article, we will talk about how Manchester United has a brilliant chance to surprise every team in the league and even has a slight chance of competing for the title.
Disaster Last Season:
Manchester United will try to forget about last season as soon as possible. Their fans were disappointed, angry, and most of all were just sad to see their favorite team reach to new low they never hoped and never saw coming. At the start of 24/25, many at the club, the staff, the coach, and the fans had high hopes because they signed some players and were hoping to finish in the Champions League spot. In the 24/25 season, Man Utd signed some exciting talents like Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs De Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee, Noussair Mazraoui, and Patrick Dorgu.
With these new players, there was not only hope, but they believed they could achieve something valuable. Erik Ten Hag was optimistic, but obviously, he could not see the foreseeable future, where everything just didn’t work out for him. He was sacked in the middle of the season, after some really disappointing results, and even the fans turned on him, demanding his sacking. The sacking came at the wrong time, personally, in my opinion.
Storm Hadn’t Passed Yet:
After the sacking, everyone thought that things would now get better. Ruud van Nistelrooy took the helm of the sinking ship of Manchester United as an interim manager until the club found a suitable manager to take over the club. The result somewhat improved, he was unbeaten in his 4 games in charge. He signed off in style, where he defeated Leicester City 3-0 at Old Trafford. Then came Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese coach who was at the helm at Sporting CP before coming to Man Utd.
But the results didn’t improve, and the results even turned worse. That’s why I said that the storm hadn’t passed yet at the club, and an even bigger storm was waiting. They lost even more matches after a relatively good start.
Amorim’s Impact:
Man Utd fans started believing after the signing of Amorim as the new head coach. Because at Sporting, he made a superb team that was very hard to beat. There were high hopes for another reason as well, Amorim’s Sporting side defeated Manchester City in the Champions League encounter by 4-1 at José Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal. He came with his own ideas, formation, and tactics.
His impact at the start felt like things were starting to get better for United, but after a strong start, everything just crumbled, and United started to lose matches one by one. Their only famous victory came against Manchester City, where United won by 1-2 at the home of Man City. But the happiness didn’t last long, and the strings of losses started from which they couldn’t recover.
Amorim’s Tactics:
Ruben Amorim typically employs a 3-4-3 formation, which can adapt to 4-3-3, 5-2-3, 4-2-4, or 3-2-5 depending on the situation. His tactical philosophy emphasizes a possession-based, attacking style with a strong emphasis on verticality and quick transitions. At United, he used his tactics and didn’t change, but the players that were in United weren’t suited for this style, and this made United’s life miserable. Players like Bruno Fernandes, Ugarte, Casemiro, and many others struggled. Not because they are not good players, but they just couldn’t cope with the new style of play in the middle of the season.
Amorim’s tactics didn’t work and led to poor results more at the United because, after the sacking of Erik Ten Hag, United were 14th in the Premier League. Things were bad, but they got worse. There’s a saying in football that new managers can bring good fortune, but for United, no such thing occurred. They acquired 24 points from 25 league games, dropped to 16th, and their win record was lowly 24%.
Fresh New Start:
Recently, United revamped its training ground, the Carrington. The revamp of the training ground occurred with the help of Norman Foster and partners, it cost £50 million to revamp it. The construction of the training ground started last June in 2024 to create a high-performance collaborative environment for players and the staff. This new facility has just opened before the start of the new season.
The training ground scheme, which is 9km from the club’s current Old Trafford stadium, features a giant ‘umbrella’ roof and includes a gym with an altitude room in which the oxygen levels can be adjusted, hydrotherapy pools, as well as new changing areas, medical suites with MRI and CT scanners, and recovery spaces.
There is even a hairdressing room, with barbers brought in individually by the players. The changing room includes touchscreens, allowing messages to be sent to team members directly.
New Faces to Change Man Utd’s Fate:
Amorim knew that new players are needed to change the condition and course of Man Utd. So, United, under Jason Wilcox as the current Director of Football, is responsible for signings and the signings that can have a real impact at the club. They are now signing players by forming data and using digital technology to influence their signings. They are keeping in mind the tactics and the formation that is used by Amorim, and the signings are made according to that.
That is why their signings were:
- Matheus Cunha from Wolves for around £61 million. Cunha fits their needs, particularly in attack. His abilities include his goal-scoring, dribbling, and the ability to drive the ball forward.
- Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford for the fee of £62 million. Man Utd signed him because of his consistent Premier League performances, where last season he scored 20 goals and had 8 assists as well. His pace, power, and hunger to prove himself were other factors as well. Making him an ideal signing for any club.
- Then Benjamin Sesko was signed from RB Leipzig for £63 million. He was signed to lead the attack of Utd with youth, power, and potential. He was drawn by the club’s historic legacy, Ruben Amorim’s tactical vision, and the chance to grow in a team aiming to compete for top trophies.
Other players are also linked with United, like Baleba of Brighton, and more, which makes things exciting for United and their fans. But this time, they have a genuine hope for an exciting season with Amorim in charge.
Conclusion:
After a season of heartbreak and chaos, Manchester United is gearing up for a bold comeback. With a revamped training facility, a data-driven transfer strategy, and Ruben Amorim’s tactical vision, the club is finally aligning ambition with action. The new signings bring fresh energy and purpose, and while challenges remain, United fans have every reason to believe that this season could mark the beginning of something truly special.
FAQs:
1. Why did Manchester United struggle last season?
Poor results, tactical mismatches, and managerial instability led to a disappointing campaign.
2. Who is Manchester United’s current manager?
Ruben Amorim, formerly of Sporting CP, now leads the team.
3. What formation does Amorim prefer?
He typically uses a flexible 3-4-3 system with attacking intent.
4. Which key players did United sign for 25/26?
Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko were major additions.
5. What’s new at United’s training ground?
A £50 million revamp introduced cutting-edge facilities and tech-driven upgrades.
6. Can Manchester United compete for the title this season?
With fresh talent and renewed focus, they have a real chance to surprise the league.