Man United’s Amorim slams entitled players amid concerns over squad form
By BBC, December 19, 2025Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has condemned the “feeling of entitlement” at the club and said players should use criticism and difficult moments as fuel to prove him wrong.
This week, Amorim was confronted with a ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo’ T-shirt, being worn by the midfielder’s half-brother, in response to the England star’s repeated absence from the starting line-up.
And youngsters Harry Amass and Chido Obi posted – then deleted – pictures on social media highlighting their achievements after Amorim suggested last week they were not doing well.
Club legends Rio Ferdinand, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes have said that Mainoo would be better off leaving the club.
But Amorim feels this is the wrong approach. His thinking is more in line with former skipper Roy Keane, who says Mainoo should force his way into Amorim’s plans.
“There is a feeling of entitlement we have in our club,” he said in a news conference on Friday, December 19, 2025.
“Sometimes, difficult moments are not a bad thing for the kids. We don’t always need accolades for everything. We are not helping.
“Nowadays, they [players] speak and go against the club because they feel entitled. Then, we have legends of the club saying, ‘if you don’t play, leave, because everyone is wrong.
“No. Let’s stay. Let’s fight. Let’s overcome. The door to my office is open. That is the way we can solve things [but] nobody is coming to talk to me.”
Amorim added that the players “sometimes forget what it means to play for Manchester United.
“I am the first to say I am failing this club inside the pitch, but outside I guarantee I am not failing this club,” the 40-year-old said.
“I understand everything, it is the environment of the players, the kids, they feel free to reply to the manager with a picture.”
Amorim has not spoken to Mainoo about his half-brother’s behaviour at Old Trafford during Monday’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth.
He is adamant that the 20-year-old’s chances of a first Premier League start of the season will not be affected by it.
United are currently without suspended midfielder Casemiro, injured defenders Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt, plus Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui, who are on Africa Cup of Nations duty.
“It was not Kobbie who wore the T-shirt,” said Amorim. “He is not going to start because of the T-shirt or go to the bench because of it.
“He is going to play if he is the right player to play.”