Manchester United come into 2025–26 at their lowest ebb in half a century. Things can’t possibly be as bad again, especially with manager Ruben Amorim enjoying a full summer and preseason to work his specific ideas into the squad, new attacking arrivals improving a priority weakness and general quiet optimism about what’s in store in the months ahead.
Amorim has afforded plenty of time since he arrived to changing the mindset within the squad. He is famously demanding and his willingness to push out a long-serving stalwart like Marcus Rashford over a perceived poor attitude should have sent a message to the rest of the players.
Last season’s 15th place Premier League finish was United’s worst since relegation from the top flight 51 years earlier. The Red Devils, having been through a change of manager in November, won only 11 league matches and crucially struggled for consistency—at no point last season did United put together consecutive Premier League victories.
But a run to the Europa League final, which was almost the ultimate reprieve given that Champions League qualification was the prize on offer, at least highlighted some capability.
United don’t have further to fall, with plenty of room to improve.
