Manchester United

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Kuala Lumpur

Image source, Getty Images

I suspect quite strongly Ruben Amorim cannot wait until Friday's final post-season encounter with Hong Kong is over and he is on the plane back to Manchester.

In his first week in the job, the 40-year-old spoke about how the media demands at United far exceed those at former club Sporting.

It is also pretty certain if the Portuguese club flew over 6,000 miles after their domestic season had ended, they would not get booed off by a large proportion of a 70,000-plus crowd, leaving Amorim to face the wrath of a hostile local media.

Yet such is the depth of knowledge about United among both ers and media in Malaysia that Amorim is asked to explain himself even when there are legitimate excuses - the heat and humidity for a start - for a below-par performance.

Amorim mentioned the four Manchester-based journalists covering this trip (including me) on Tuesday, saying we demand answers. But it was journalists based in South East Asia who asked about the booing in Kuala Lumpur and also the lack of tickets sold in Hong Kong.

Amorim said on Tuesday he was excited for the new season. He will not be excited for long if results don't turn round.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says he needs to "push the players" and make them feel like they "need to win every game".

The Reds kicked off their post-season tour with a 1-0 defeat by ASEAN All-Stars in Malaysia - after which they were booed off.

Responding to a question about whether a "change of ethos" is needed, Amorim said: "We know that, and we talked about that after the [Aston] Villa game and we played quite well against a team trying to get Champions League. Today was completely different.

"My biggest concern is that we need to have the feeling we need to win every game, even a small side game on the street - every game, every exercise. That is what we have to do to push the players.

"The way I play is similar to other coaches - you have an idea and stick with it. I am just one more coach.

"I reached this level because I believe certain things so we will see. Of course, we need to improve the results - but I have the confidence."

Simon Stone in Kuala Lumpur
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United officials are putting a positive spin on their two-match trip to Asia, pointing out they are not the only club playing matches this week as Chelsea, Real Betis, Paris St-Germain and Inter Milan are also in action.

I am not sure two games against local sides in Malaysia and Hong Kong is quite the same as a European final, but the trip does at least give United head coach Ruben Amorim a chance to reset after a tortuous 2024-25 campaign.

United play a South East Asia All-Stars outfit in Kuala Lumpur tonight (13:45 BST) and then head to Hong Kong to play their national team on Friday (13:00 BST).

"It was important to finish the season," said Amorim. "We needed to close that chapter. Now I'm excited and I'm nervous - I want to work to the next season.

"I don't have a feeling that I need to disconnect - I don't need to rest.

"I just need to prepare for next season."

United have already made significant progress in their attempts to sign Matheus Cunha from Wolves, while a number of departures are expected.

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Not every contribution in a Premier League match involves sprinting or flying into tackles. Some players influence the game in more subtle ways - through positioning, awareness, and economy of movement.

Tracking data shows that certain players walk more than others during matches, often using these moments to read the game, conserve energy, or stay tactically disciplined.

While it might raise eyebrows, walking can be part of a smart, strategic approach. Let's take a look at the players who spent the most time walking during games this season - and what that might say about their playing style.

• Not a United fan? Find and follow your club here

Manchester United fans might be interested to know that incoming forward Matheus Cunha spent more of his time walking than any other outfield player in the Premier League this season, at 77%.

What makes that even more remarkable is that the rest of the top five biggest 'walkers' were all centre-backs, where biding your time and assessing the situation makes more sense.

Now Lionel Messi is known for walking a lot in games before producing moments of magic, so it is not necessarily a bad thing, but the question is whether what Cunha brings is worth the walking.

Is Cunha's skillset worth it?

And do you agree that he is a better footballer than Garnacho?

Have your say on United's prospective new arrival over here

Image source, Getty Images

Is Matheus Cunha a better player than Alejandro Garnacho?

BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater believes so, urging Manchester United to cash in on Garnacho in order to make room for new summer gs.

Speaking on The Devils' Advocate podcast, he said: "Garnacho came on in the Europa League final and did nothing. As Amorim said, that's all in the past now.

"Matheus Cunha is done, and will be a very exciting g.

"Cunha is a better footballer than Garnacho, and so is Bryan Mbeumo. You're talking about 40-odd Premier League goals between those two.

"They're better footballers. Sign them, bring them in."

In 33 Premier League appearances, Cunha ed 15 goals and a further six assists. Meanwhile, Brentford's Mbeumo notched 20 goals from 38 league appearances, assisting another eight.

In comparison, Garnacho managed just six goals and two assists from 36 Premier League games.

Listen to the full podcast over here

Simon Stone in Kuala Lumpur
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It used to be a feature of Manchester United trips to Asia that Sir Alex Ferguson would get asked in media conferences what he thought of the standard of football in that particular country and whether there were any players he was keeping an eye on.

Ferguson generally fell back on the catch-all answer that football was growing 'in this part of the world' and the standard is getting better.

In somewhere like Japan, he might mention a well-known player; in other countries he would just say there were 'a few' that he liked and left it at that.

Back in Kuala Lumpur for the first time since 2009, yesterday, it was Ruben Amorim who had to field the same questions.

He dealt with them pretty well.

"We want the best players in the world," he said. "If I see someone with real value and he performs he could be on our list.

"I don't have a lot of knowledge in this region. I know it is getting bigger. I know in Malaysia, you have football and bton.

"But it (football) is a global sport and is improving in every region."

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Bournemouth and Tottenham were the most physical teams in the Premier League this season when considering the distance they covered and the number of sprints performed.

The results might explain why they had a lot of injuries.

Newcastle and Brighton were not too far behind though, with Brighton actually covering the most ground in the league, with fewer sprints.

Chelsea and Liverpool's style of play saw them sprint a lot but not cover a lot of ground, while Manchester City and Arsenal were the opposite (ran a lot but didn't sprint a lot).

Nottingham Forest very much had their own style of play this season as they both ran and sprinted the least.

Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal have offered a deal for Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, 30, and told the Portugal midfielder he has 72 hours to make a decision. (Mail, external)

Meanwhile, United have agreed the framework of a deal for Ipswich Town's Liam Delap and are now waiting for the English striker to decide on his next move. (ESPN, external)

Finally, United are the leading contenders to sign 16-year-old Southampton defender Harley Emsden-James but face competition from Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal. (Mail, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Alex Turk
Fan writer

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Season rating: 1/10. A record-low Premier League finish in back-to-back seasons. A manager sacked. A homegrown hero axed. A nightmare defeat in Bilbao. I could go on. Everything that could go wrong… went wrong. The decision to trust heart over head and retain Erik ten Hag ultimately wrote the season off. Heartbreak in the Europa League final was the cherry on top.

Happy with your manager?: No, Manchester United are losing far too many matches. But I also understand the torrid circumstances Ruben Amorim inherited and have seen enough from him to share optimism he is the right man to lead this new era. He needs serious backing though.

Unsung hero: I'm reluctant to give any individual player praise because the season has been that much of a disaster. Joshua Zirkzee can have a special mention for his impressive renaissance. There is more to come from him.

Player you would most like to sign: Matheus Cunha is all but done and Liam Delap appears next on United's list. But Amorim wants another versatile forward, and that should be Bryan Mbeumo. He's coming off the back of a 20-goal Premier League season, is already well-versed in Amorim's system and only turns 26 this year.

Right now, my overriding emotion from the season is: Disgust. Is that too strong? United finished 15th in the league [and could have dropped to 17th on the final day]. Liverpool equalled the club's 20 titles, and Amorim's side couldn't even salvage something sweet. Handing Tottenham Hotspur their first trophy in 17 years and eternal immunity from 'Spursy' banter is a scar no club wanted. It is a fitting scar for the worst team in this club's modern history. Things can only get better. They have to.

Do you agree with Alex's answers? Pick one or two categories and send your answer

Find more from Alex Turk at Turk Talks FC, external

Image source, Getty Images

Here's my quick assessment of Manchester United's Premier League season - and a return to my August predictions.

Pre-season prediction: 5th

Ended the season: 15th

Where do you even start?

When a manager, in this case Ruben Amorim, is offering public apologies on the pitch just six months after his appointment, you get the picture of just what a dreadful state a proud club is in.

Amorim also told ers: "Good days are coming." There is little evidence of this coming to at the end of United's worst top-flight season since 1973-74.

They were an utter shambles. On and off the pitch, from the ill-judged (not to mention hugely expensive) decision to keep Erik ten Hag and extend his contract, then sack him, to the total lack of impact from successor Amorim after his arrival in November.

A run to the Europa League final threatened to cover up gaping cracks, as well as the growing discontent with part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, but United reverted to type with a mind-numbingly bad display in losing to Tottenham.

A head coach who seems uneasy in his role. A mediocre squad ill-suited to said coach's preferred three at the back. Unpopular owners. Morale at the club rock bottom.

Other than that...

What I said in August: "Erik ten Hag is still in a job after winning the FA Cup last season but he is surely realistic enough to know he needs a good start to stop speculation rearing its head again, even after g a new contract."

Read my assessments of the other 19 teams here

Alex Fletcher
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

"It's in the past. It's over."

Those were the words of Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim after his sides' 2-0 victory over Aston Villa brought the curtain down on a difficult campaign at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese addressed those that remained inside the Theatre of Dreams after the full-time whistle, issuing an apology on behalf of himself and the squad.

"I want to apologise for this season. I know you are really disappointed with me and the team," said Amorim.

"After this disastrous season, I want to tell you the good days are coming."

But with a record 18 Premier League defeats and a lowest ever Premier League finish, what went wrong this season?

Image source, Getty Images

It's easy to look all around the pitch and at the system played by Amorim, when it comes to analysing United's shortcomings.

Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir have both made mistakes this season - the latter getting away with one in the final game - and the ability of the wing-backs and central midfielders has been called in to question, while Amorim refused to budge on his tactics.

Despite lapses in concentration, they kept 10 clean sheets and conceded 54 goals this season - only 13 more than champions Liverpool, who doubled their points tally.

And it's the lack of goals that caused the most problems.

According to Opta, United had a shot conversion rate of just 12.3% this season - only Southampton's was lower - as they were outscored by all but four teams in the Premier League.

Their captain Bruno Fernandes topped the charts for chances created, with 91 across the season.

Despite this, no player for United reached double figures for goals in the league, with Fernandes and Amad the top scorers on just eight goals each - that's after the Ivorian missed almost three months with an ankle injury.

Much of the pressure was on Rasmus Hojlund, but the Dane found the net just four times - and along with summer g Joshua Zirkzee - failed to provide a goal threat at the top of the pitch.