Harry Maguire has lifted the lid on the what went wrong during Ruben Amorim’s turbulent first season at Manchester United – and explained how the Portuguese manager intends to transform the side in his first full term in charge at Old Trafford.
The former Sporting CP head coach was secured last winter after the acrimonious sacking of former manager Erik ten Hag, in a bid to reignite an uneven season to date.
But rather than reversing their fortunes, Amorim struggled with a dysfunctional squad with limited experience playing his 3-4-3 system, and helter-skelter form.
The head coach also had to contend with Marcus Rashford agitating for a loan away from the club – which came during the January window – and a tumultuous relationship with academy starlet Alejandro Garnacho.
Man United finished the season in 16th place and forced to go without European football after their defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final.
But after a full pre-season working with his players and the recruitment of new stars including Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko, Amorim will be relishing a clean slate.
Harry Maguire (centre right) has revealed why he believes Man United struggled last season
Ruben Amorim has since drafted new signings including Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha
So too will his players, with Harry Maguire explaining to Red Devils legend that the new ‘great atmosphere’ in the group has brought about a clear-eyed assessment of the previous season and what needed to change.
‘I feel like it’s almost a little bit of a fresh start and hopefully this start is a good start,’ Maguire told Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast. ‘We want to find it. We want to be challenging at the top.
‘We have a lot of talent in the squad obviously we’ve brought in Matheus and Bryan, who look really well and I know they’re going to improve as massively. And it’s really good that now we’ve had a full pre-season to work under this manager.
‘I think he spoke about it a lot last season that we just didn’t have a chance to train. And I think, to be honest, when he first took over, I think the physicality of our squad wasn’t good enough for the Premier League. We couldn’t run hard enough. We didn’t win enough duels.
‘And I think he’s realised that now we’ve got a full pre-season and I think the lads are looking a lot more leaner and sharper. And I think it’s now good competition for places and I’m sure they’ll bring in a couple more. But yeah, it’s looking a lot more brighter.’
Maguire confirmed that the squad are now more comfortable working with a back-three set-up, and that the understands that their manager demands ‘really aggressive, really front foot’ play.
‘I think last year we didn’t swing across enough quick enough, probably to do with, like I said, our physical fitness. Our running power wasn’t good enough in the Premier League,’ Maguire continued.
‘So I think this season you’ll see a lot more swinging across, playing not just with the back five, four. I think we’ll be a lot of the back three along the back line. Enabling us to jump and get high pressure on the ball. He obviously wants us to build up, but take no risks.
Working on improving the fitness and aggression of the Man United squad has been a priority
‘I think last season we played a lot of short passes, building up in our own third. I think one of the most in the Premier League, if not the most. But I think we give it away the most as well in our own third.
‘So it’s something that we do need to look at and improve on. But yeah, it’s all guided to help the team. He’s really pragmatic. I think everyone gets drawn into thinking that we’re a back five and we’re a back three. If you actually watch and analyse our games, we’re playing a back four a lot of the time.
‘I think people can get drawn into the formation and why is he not changing and why is he not doing this? But there’s many times in games where we’re a back three or a back four or a back five.’
Maguire – who is set to enter the final year of his contract and has been targeted by interest from European clubs – will get to show off the new-look Manchester United when the season starts in earnest next week.
United will face off with last season’s title-chasers Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
