Manchester United FC | 2024/25 Season

[FearlessRoar]

Ex-Man Utd sporting director Ashworth in Warwickshire role​

Former Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth is working with Warwickshire County Cricket Club, advising on performance strategy.

However, sources have told BBC Sport this is a continuation of a voluntary role he took up with the club in 2021, and that it remains unpaid.

Ashworth left United in December just five months after joining from Newcastle United. The club revealed last week the episode had cost £4.1m.

The 53-year-old has worked in cricket before, as part of an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) high performance review in 2022.

On Monday United announced the club will make up to 200 jobs redundant to "return the club to profitability". That followed around 250 members of staff being made redundant last year.

Last week the club revealed a loss of £27.7m in their second quarter financial results and the Red Devils have lost more than £300m over the past three years.

Warwickshire finished seventh out of 10 in the County Championship last season, winning just once in 14 games, to stay up with 25 points to spare.

They lost in the T20 Blast quarter-finals for the fifth straight year - and also in the semi-finals of the One Day Cup.

Dan Ashworth: Former Man Utd sporting director working with Warwickshire

Ex-Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth is working with Warwickshire on performance strategy.

www.bbc.com

 

[FearlessRoar]

Ruben Amorim claims Manchester United players to blame for latest job losses​

Ruben Amorim said Manchester United’s players must take the blame for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s decision to axe a further 200 jobs because their failings on the pitch have created the crisis at Old Trafford.

United, who sacked 250 people last year, announced a further redundancy programme on Monday as they seek to cut costs after making losses of £373m over the last five years.

And head coach Amorim, whose side are only 15th in the Premier League, believes the team is the “engine” of the club as he said they need to work out how they got into such a dire situation.

United have underachieved on the pitch in recent seasons, only coming eighth in the league under Erik ten Hag last season, and are at risk of not qualifying for Europe from the current campaign.

And Amorim said: “We as a club have to understand what we did wrong to get to this situation so we need to think in solutions at this moment.

“We have to address all the problems in the club but one important piece of this moment is to understand how we got to this situation and it has a lot to do with the lack of success of the football team because we are the engine of any football club.”

Amorim, who has only taken 15 points from his 15 league games in charge, admitted it is difficult for players and staff who see their colleagues at risk of unemployment as he urged his players to concentrate on get results.

He added: “It is always hard for everybody. They see the friends and the teammates losing their jobs but we have to focus on what I can do to help the club in the moment. I just want to help the club in my department which is to improve the team and improve the players to have success.

“We know this year was really hard for everybody. We did as a club a lot of changes and then when you are doing the changes if you have a football team who are playing well and are winning games, it is easier for the fans and everyone to feel that changes [are working]. But in this moment we are in a difficult period inside of the club and inside of the pitch so we have to fight against this feeling and we have do our job and we try our best to help the team to perform better.”

Ruben Amorim claims Manchester United players to blame for latest job losses

The Old Trafford club announced a further 200 redundancies this week after significant job cuts last year

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Onana v De Gea verdict after Man Utd keeper's latest error

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana is in the spotlight again after his error led to Ipswich Town taking an early lead in their Premier League game on Wednesday evening.

United rallied and eventually won the game 3-2 despite being down to 10 men, but the mistake has reignited the debate about the Cameroon international.

The 28-year-old endured a tough start to life at Old Trafford but appeared to have turned a corner earlier this season when he had the most clean sheets in England's top flight with six.

However, four minutes in to the game against the Tractor Boys, he illustrated why United fans and pundits have persistent doubts about him.

He dashed to the edge of his penalty area as Patrick Dorgu ran towards him and, as the left wing-back nudged the ball towards where he expected Onana to be, it gifted Jaden Philogene with a tap-in.

The former Aston Villa winger later scored his second of the night from a deep cross that deceived Onana because of Liam Delap's run across him.

Speaking on TNT Sports, former Blackburn and Wales midfielder Robbie Savage said: "I've got no idea why Onana is running out to that position [for the first goal].

"Dorgu has got it under control, no problem at all. He shouldn't come there.

"You should be talking, lay it back to him on his right foot and then he can clear it. I don't know why he's come."

Former United defender Rio Ferdinand added: "It was a terrible start. Onana doesn't need to come. The full-back is in complete control and he can just hold his ground and let him play it back to him."

On BBC Radio 5 Live, former Celtic boss Neil Lennon added: "I don't know where Andre Onana is going. It is a shambles."

Manchester United: Andre Onana analysis after Ipswich error

Manchester United's Andre Onana is in the spotlight as a result of his error against Ipswich - but how does he stack up against the man he replaced, David de Gea?

www.bbc.com

 

[FearlessRoar]

'My opinion is more important': Man Utd's Amorim backs Fernandes after Keane criticism​

Bruno Fernandes is a key player for Manchester United, manager Ruben Amorim stressed on Friday as he defended the Portugal international following criticism from the Premier League club's former captain Roy Keane.

Fernandes, who was named man of the match for his performance in a 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town on Wednesday, has often been criticised for his on-field demeanour and has admitted in the past that his gesticulating and complaining can rile up both teammates and opponents.

In an appearance on the Stick to Football podcast alongside former Arsenal player Ian Wright, Keane criticised Fernandes' work rate, adding: "Talent is not enough! You keep going back to talent - Bruno's a talented player, but it's not enough."

Amorim said he did not agree with Keane's remarks on Fernandes.

"I heard about that. I have a different opinion. Bruno is really important for us and the club. He is playing well in a difficult context," the Portuguese manager told reporters ahead of an FA Cup meeting with Fulham on Sunday.

"He wants always the responsibility. I know sometimes as a captain he does things with his arms but most of all it is a lot of frustration for this year and the last year. He wants to win and sometimes it is hard to deal with that frustration.

"Everyone has an opinion. Roy Keane has big standards from his time at the club and it is normal to have an opinion. I have an opposite opinion and I think my opinion is more important than Roy Keane's because I am the coach."

Asked if players needed to be able to handle criticism better in the age of social media, Amorim said: "I think it is really hard for them.

"You can call it soft but they have access to criticism that is hard to deal with. They need help to deal with that. It's modern football and they have to be prepared for that."

Amorim also said he had spoken with Argentine forward Alejandro Garnacho, who was substituted following Patrick Dorgu's red card in the win over Ipswich and headed straight down the tunnel rather than joining his teammates on the bench.

"He came to me, to my office," he added.

"I did some investigation. He (Garnacho) went to dressing room, watched the game, then went home. It is not an issue but I told him that at Manchester United everything is an issue. At this club, perception is important.

"He will pay for dinner for all the team. That is it."

https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/my-opinion-is-more-important-man-utds-amorim-backs-fernandes-after-keane-2025-02-28/?taid=67c1d300eba5c40001b5af76&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Man Utd on right path on and off pitch - Amorim

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is convinced the club are on a clear path to a better future, on and off the pitch.

It has been another testing week at Old Trafford. After escaping with a draw despite a woeful first 70 minutes at Everton last Saturday, 48 hours later chief executive Omar Berrada was telling staff up to 200 jobs could go in a second round of redundancies.

It took a backs-to-the-wall second-half display against relegation-threatened Ipswich on Wednesday to claim a vital Premier League win after more defensive mistakes and Patrick Dorgu's red card threatened a sixth home defeat of Amorim's short reign.

The Portuguese says life is "hard" just now - but remains convinced better times lie ahead.

"I see a clear path, and I see that from the board also," he said in the build-up to Sunday's home FA Cup fifth-round tie against Fulham. "They are also doing difficult changes.

"They are not popular but they are doing it because they have a vision. In the future we need to show some results. You can do a lot of changes but if you don't have results, people don't feel confident and happy.

"The good thing is we have a clear path. Now [it] is hard but we are doing things to achieve success in the future."

United's inconsistency puts even more focus on the two cup competitions they remain in - they face Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday - as it appears increasingly likely winning one of them is the only way they will qualify for European football next season.

The issues he is facing are so extensive, Amorim could be forgiven for wishing he had stuck to his initial demand not to leave Sporting until the end of the season.

However, he does think dealing with so many problems has made him a more rounded coach.

"Better [coach] is hard to say, because I am not winning games," he said. "But in three months here, I live certain things that I think make me a more complete manager.

"Sometimes you need to lose and be in a poor situation to grow. I am not going to die if I lose three games in a row. I learned that here. I can cope and maintain my energy. I am learning a lot about myself and the players - but I prefer to win games."

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim says club on clear path to better future

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim says he and the club's board have a "vision" showing a "clear path" to a better future, on and off the pitch.

www.bbc.com

 

[Cricket Warrior]

'Some Man Utd players not good enough & overpaid'

Some Manchester United players are "not good enough" and some are "overpaid", the club's co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe says.

Midfielder Casemiro, striker Rasmus Hojlund, goalkeeper Andre Onana, and wingers Antony and Jadon Sancho - who are on loan at other clubs - were namechecked by the billionaire in an interview with BBC Sport as players his regime had "inherited".

Ratcliffe, a lifelong Manchester United fan, is the chairman of petrochemicals company Ineos, which has a strong sport investment arm.

The 72-year-old last year spent £1.3bn for a 28.94% stake in the club in a deal which saw Ineos take control of football operations.

In a wide-ranging interview, Ratcliffe addressed the side's recent struggles on the pitch - they are 14th in the Premier League table - and repeated a pledge to deliver silverware by 2028.

And talking just a day after fans protested against United's ownership, he also spoke of the club's financial difficulties, saying it was set to run out of money by the end of the year without taking actions he admitted were "unpopular".

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c7571gng06wo

 

[Cricket Warrior]

'Underperforming' Man Utd can 'change Ratcliffe's mind'

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says it is up to him and his players to "change" Sir Jim Ratcliffe's opinion on the team.

Ratcliffe, 72, told BBC Sport this week that some players in United's squad were "not good enough" and "overpaid", though he did not specify which players.

Ratcliffe had namechecked Andre Onana, Rasmus Hojlund, Casemiro, Antony and Jadon Sancho as transfer deals that Ineos had "inherited" at the club and are yet to pay off.

Asked about Ratcliffe's comments, Amorim said: "I think if we are being honest in this moment, everybody - me, the players - are underperforming this season.

"I include myself in the underperforming.

"You are talking about players like Casemiro that won everything and we know these players can play so much better.

"He (Ratcliffe) was honest in that. The focus is to change his mind and everybody's."

Amorim, who Ratcliffe described as an "outstanding young manager", says he has a good relationship the United board.

"I think we are really blunt and honest with each other, we are quite similar in that," said Amorim, ahead of his side's Europa League match against Real Sociedad.

"I always felt the support of the board, especially Sir Jim."

Manchester United squad can 'change' Sir Jim Ratcliffe's opinion, says Ruben Amorim

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says "underperforming" squad can change Sir Jim Ratcliffe's opinion.

www.bbc.com

 

[BouncerGuy]

'I turned down offer to leave Man Utd in summer'

Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes says he could have left the club last summer.

The 30-year-old was United's hero on Thursday night, scoring a hat-trick as they beat Real Sociedad to move into a Europa League quarter-final with Lyon.

He was also singled out for praise by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in an interview with BBC Sport on Monday.

But Fernandes said there had been an offer to sign him in the summer and he'd held talks with the club about his future.

"I sat with the club because I had an offer to leave," he said. "We talked about the possibility of me leaving the club or staying.

"They said what they wanted from me. I just asked if they still see me as part of the future of the club or not. I spoke at the time with (Erik) Ten Hag also.

"He was very clear with me, the club was very clear with me, that they thought I would be a big part of this rebuild. I thought that we could be successful."

The Portugal international now has 15 goals this season. None of his team-mates have got into double figures.

In a campaign that has been bad enough for United, who are 14th in the Premier League and on the brink of their worst domestic campaign since the 1973-74 relegation season, it is not hard to imagine the strife they would have been in had talks with Fernandes in the summer taken a different turn amid interest from Bayern Munich among others.

After Ten Hag was sacked in October, Fernandes' fellow countryman Ruben Amorim came in as replacement - but a bleak situation has got no better.

Last month legendary former captain Roy Keane blasted Fernandes, saying "talent is not enough" and that he was not "a fighter".

Even Amorim, in the wake of Fernandes' Europa League exploits said his captain needs to "trust" his team-mates more.

"Roy Keane was an amazing captain for the club, one of the best as everyone says," said Fernandes.

"I didn't have the chance to see much from him, only the last few years, but he was a great player that won everything for the club. He's massively respected from everyone and has all my respect.

"He has to give his opinion in a programme and this is what he thinks about me.

"I don't want to copy anyone. I try to be the best captain that I can for my team-mates and help everyone in the best way I know."

'We can't relax at this club'

The Europa League remains a route back into the Champions League for United despite their poor season.

Fernandes, who is under contract until 2027, says he wants to stay at Old Trafford for as long as they are competing for trophies.

He said: "We can't relax at this club. We need to prove ourselves every day in training and every day that we have a game.

"I'm in the same boat as my team-mates. It doesn't matter how much you do, how much you score, how much you assist... It's about the team.

"I'm very happy at the club. Obviously, I want to win trophies. I want to be in the biggest competitions, I want to fight for the big trophies. That's what I said to the club. That's what the club said to me that they want to do."

Ratcliffe said this week some players he has inherited are "not good enough" and "overpaid".

Midfielder Casemiro, striker Rasmus Hojlund, goalkeeper Andre Onana, and wingers Antony and Jadon Sancho - who are on loan at other clubs - were namechecked by the billionaire in an interview with BBC Sport.

Fernandes said: "I don't think any player likes to hear criticism or things that are talked about to you, that you're not good enough or you're overpaid or whatever.

"But everyone has their own contract. The club agrees to the contracts and it's about proving that you can be important for the club."

BBC

 

[Kianig89]

So into EL QF , a tricky tie against OL , though the prize is very lucrative, winners play UCL next season.

Let's see realistically UTD can win EL

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Man Utd fans 'disappointed' by season ticket price increase

Manchester United season ticket prices will increase by about 5% for the third successive year as the club aims to become financially sustainable.

The Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) says the increase is "less than many feared", and there has been a price freeze for under-16s.

But MUST says United fans have "expressed their disappointment" that the club has "ignored" the call for a widespread price freeze.

Since becoming the club's co-owner last year, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos group have tried improve the club's finances but several changes have been unpopular, resulting in fan protests, in particular at last week's home game with Arsenal.

Some of the latest changes for the 2025-26 season include the introduction of a game categorisation model for non-season ticket holders, where premium games cost more.

United are also increasing the minimum usage requirement for season ticket holders from 15 to 16 of their 19 Premier League home games.

United's chief executive Omar Berrada says the club "worked hard to come up with a pricing package that is fair and reasonable" and that the new changes are being made "to offset continued rises in operating costs".

However, MUST says that "we fail to see any justification for the increase" and that the new categorisation model is "a source of major concern".

A MUST statement read: "For several months we have argued long and hard that the club need to look at the big picture and freeze ticket prices for next season.

"Other clubs have done that already and at United it would have sent a powerful message about the need for everyone to pull together to get the club out of the very difficult position it finds itself in."

Berrada said: "We understand that any price rise is unwelcome, especially during a period of under-performance on the pitch, and we listened carefully to the strong arguments put forward by the FAB (Fan Advisory Board) in favour of a freeze.

"However, the club has decided it would not be right to keep prices unchanged while costs rise and the club continues to face financial issues.

"We have kept the increase to the lowest possible level and protected our youngest season ticket holders from any rises, while ensuring the club remains financially strong enough to invest in improving the team."

Man Utd season ticket price increase: Fans 'disappointed' at 5% rise

Manchester United season ticket prices will increase by about 5% for the third successive year as the club aims to become financially sustainable.

www.bbc.com