Manuel Ugarte says Ruben Amorim has the full backing of the Manchester United dressing room despite a challenging start to his tenure at Old Trafford.
Amorim took over from Erik ten Hag in November 2024 but endured a nightmare debut season as United recorded their worst-ever Premier League finish, ending the season in 15th place.
The Portuguese coach, who joined after an impressive spell in charge of Sporting CP, oversaw just seven wins in 27 league matches last season.
United also missed out on their only shot at silverware, falling to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final in Bilbao in May.
Despite this, Ugarte insists that the squad have complete faith in Amorim and believe he is the right man for the job.
The 25-year-old joined United from Paris Saint-Germain last season but initially struggled to adapt to the pace of the Premier League and secure a regular spot in midfield.
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What did Ugarte say?
Speaking to the press during the Red Devils’ preseason tour of the United States, Ugarte admitted that United were below par last season, though he voiced his support for Amorim’s vision.
“We have to improve things,” he said.
“We have matches to prepare for. We are all very motivated, because we believe in the coach, we believe in what he wants and that is very important.”
Indeed, if United are to bounce back from their dismal 15th-place finish, Amorim will need his players to fully embrace his dynamic 3-4-3 structure.
“Last year we made some changes, we changed our coach, we changed our formation,” Ugarte added.
“This year I am good, I am very excited. It is important to perform well in this club, with United.”
The midfielder also called for patience, which will undoubtedly be crucial as United look to blood in new high-profile signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
“Sometimes the connections take time to get to know each other. I already know the league, the rivals, which is important.”
United have three preseason fixtures remaining – against Bournemouth, Everton, and Fiorentina – a before kicking off their Premier League campaign at home to Arsenal.
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