Amorim admits ongoing uncertainty about Man United after 11 months in charge

Ruben Amorim says he still does not know exactly what to expect from his Manchester United side 11 months into his tenure, underscoring the challenge of building consistency at Old Trafford. United head into a Premier League matchup with Brentford after failing to win back-to-back league games since May 2024, a statistic Amorim cited as a reminder that momentum is hard-won even after a home win over Chelsea in the previous round. He noted that a season of erratic results has left him uncertain about the exact nature of his squad’s performances from one match to the next, a reality he exposed during a tour in the United States this summer and reiterated before Saturday’s trip to the Gtech Community Stadium.

"It’s normal that the fans don't know what is going to happen the next game," Amorim said. "To be honest, I have an idea, but I don't know how it's going to be – and I'm the manager of the team. The best way of dealing with that is approaching every game like it's the last one. I understand the feeling of the fans, so let's start changing that feeling to present ourselves with the urgency of what we need to do on the pitch."

United’s readiness to adapt in real time has become a focal point as they prepare for a Brentford visit that will also feature the first return to Old Trafford for Bryan Mbeumo since his £71million move away last summer. Amorim has been quick to praise the Cameroon international, who has already scored twice in league and cup fixtures this season and won a free kick that led to a red card for Chelsea keeper Robert Sánchez in another game. He also spoke glowingly about fellow new arrival Matheus Cunha, pointing to the pair as a symbol of a calculated shift in recruitment aimed at balancing risk with potential reward.

"Everything he has been doing has been really important for us," Amorim said of Mbeumo. "The light he brings to the dressing-room. He is not the guy who talks, but he is always there to help us. He runs a lot, presses a lot, he is a different threat to last season. I'm more than happy with Bryan. You can see that every player you want to buy in the Premier League is really expensive. But if you look at our moments last year, you want to take the less risky move. It's really important to have top players in our team. If you look at Bryan and Cunha, they have done this for years. It was something we looked at, players in the Premier League.""

United’s forward plan has implications beyond the immediate schedule. Amorim acknowledged that the club’s summer business—anchored by Cunha and Mbeumo—was designed to add pace and versatility up front, while also addressing the need for players who can adjust to the intensity of the Premier League. He described the market as unforgiving, noting that even elite targets can come with a premium, but insisted the club acted with purpose, aiming to blend proven Premier League performers with value-driven additions who could grow into a consistent level of performance.

Asked how the team can regain consistent momentum, Amorim pointed to a simple but demanding approach. "We cannot control the game," he said at one crossroad of the season. "The most important thing is to start the game like we did against Chelsea and Burnley. These kinds of games, we need to be really focused and have the feeling of needing to win every match." The emphasis on opening with intention reflected a broader strategy to shorten the learning curve for players still adapting to his system and to the Premier League’s tempo.

As United hunt a positive run, the Brentford fixture also carries a personal subplot with Mbeumo’s return to his former club. Amorim’s praise for the 23-year-old forward has been robust, underscoring how swiftly the new manager believes Mbeumo has integrated into the team’s philosophy. Cunha’s presence alongside him has been framed as part of a deliberate plan to bring creativity and high pressing intensity to Manchester United’s attack, a blend Amorim said could yield dividends if maintained across a challenging stretch of fixtures.

"You can see that every player you want to buy in the Premier League is really expensive. But if you look at our moments last year, you want to take the less risky move," Amorim said, reflecting on the club’s transfer strategy. "It's really important to have top players in our team. If you look at Bryan and Cunha, they have done this for years. It was something we looked at, players in the Premier League."

As the season progresses, Amorim will be tested not only by the schedule but by the evolving expectations of a fanbase eager for consistent results. His candid assessment that he does not fully know what to expect from his own group underscores the growth area United must navigate if they are to translate talent into sustained success. The Brentford match looms as a critical checkpoint—an opportunity to translate momentum from last weekend’s win into a broader sense of urgency across the squad.