Ruben Amorim, Manchester United’s manager, has voiced his concerns about the team’s lack of leadership during a challenging period for the club. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s daunting Premier League fixture against table-toppers Liverpool, Amorim reflected on the difficulties his team faces as they navigate a turbulent season.
The club has exercised an option to extend Harry Maguire’s contract until 2026, securing the services of the 31-year-old defender who joined from Leicester City in 2019. Maguire’s initial deal was set to expire at the end of this season. Despite the extension, Amorim emphasised the need for Maguire to step up both on and off the pitch.
“I spoke with him (Maguire) this morning and I told him he has to improve on the pitch, we need him a lot,” Amorim said on Friday. “Also, he has to improve as a leader. We all know the situation that he had here (losing the captaincy and falling down the pecking order) but we need him a lot in this moment, so we are going to trigger, happily, the option for him.”
The manager underscored the importance of leadership within the squad, highlighting the current void in that area.
“When you look at our team we are starving for leaders on the pitch. He is a leader,”
Amorim stated.
The Red Devils will be bolstered by the return of captain Bruno Fernandes for the Anfield clash after he missed their 2-0 defeat to Newcastle due to suspension. However, Marcus Rashford remains unavailable, this time sidelined by illness. Rashford was an unused substitute in the Newcastle game, having just returned to the squad after a five-match absence.
Contrasting Fortunes Ahead of Anfield Showdown
As two of England’s most decorated football clubs prepare to face off, their current trajectories could not be more different. Liverpool are comfortably six points ahead at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand over second-placed Arsenal. United, on the other hand, have endured a sharp decline, losing four consecutive games and slipping to 14th in the table.
The task awaiting Amorim’s side is formidable. United last claimed victory at Anfield nine years ago and have suffered heavy defeats, including 4-0 and 7-0 losses, in two of their last three visits.
Despite the daunting challenge, Amorim is optimistic about the impact of dedicated training sessions this week.
“In football, in one game anything can happen,” he said. “If you talk about the season, then almost every time the best team wins. In the moment they are better than us but we can win any game. We have to focus not on the context but the performance. We have to improve the simple things.”
Acknowledging the team’s recent struggles, Amorim added:
“Of course, it is a difficult moment because we are losing too many matches and we are going to be facing the best team of this year, but, like I said, with training, we prepare more the team and we want to improve the performance compared to the last game.”
Amid the challenges, one bright spot has been the form of Amad Diallo. The young Ivorian has impressed during Amorim’s tenure, providing some optimism during a difficult period for the club. Amorim confirmed that Diallo is close to agreeing on a new long-term deal at Old Trafford.
