THE SUN đ” Man Utd stars told new season target as Jason Wilcox slams âdisappointingâ campaign so far under Ruben Amorim
MANCHESTER UNITED stars have been told qualifying for the Champions League is the target for the season.
The clubâs director of football Jason Wilcox addressed the players following Ruben Amorimâs sacking on Monday and told them that the season had been âdisappointingâ so far.
But he tried to rally the troops by encouraging them that a Champions League spot was within their grasp if they could focus for the rest of the season.
United are joint sixth on 32 points, with fifth likely to grab a spot in Europeâs premier competition. .
A source said: âWilcox has spoken with the players in the wake of Amorimâs departure.
âHeâs explained that the season has had some disappointments so far, but urged the players to come together and try and sustain some good form in the second half of the season.
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âQualifying for the Champions League is the target and itâs attainable. That was the message.â
The first-team squad believe they can find success in the wake of Amorimâs departure, which they believed was on the cards ever since Unitedâs 4-4 draw with Bournemouth on December 15.
A source said: âAmorim seemed to be affected by that result and the atmosphere changed on the training ground.
âHe had a different outlook which some of the players noticed. It felt like the beginning of the end.â
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Meanwhile one player looking for assurances from United is midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who was sidelined for most of the season by Amorim.
The source said: âKobbie was frustrated under Amorim because he felt like he broke into the first team and gained a lot of success playing one way.
âThen suddenly Amorim started telling him he needed to play in a completely different way, which wasnât to his strengths.â
Mainoo was keen to leave United on loan but now wants talks to discuss his long-term future.
He currently earns around ÂŁ25,000-a-week but new contract negotiations stalled at an early stage and the club and the player remain at odds.
The source said: âAmorim leaving definitely increases the chances of Kobbie staying at United. But itâs not a given.
âHe wants assurances from officials about how they see him fitting into the squad and the first team.â
SunSport also recently revealed Man Utd stars fear Bruno Fernandes has had enough of the Old Trafford shambles and will move this summer.
A timeline of Amorim’s Christmas fallout
BY KATHERINE WALSH
SIR JIM RATCLIFFEâS perceived âheated chatâ with Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada after the 4-1 win at Molineux on December 8 largely went under the radar.
The trio were pictured in an animated discussion immediately after Wolves scored their equalising goal just after half-time.
United then lost Amad, Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui to Afcon after the 4-4 draw with Bournemouth and skipper Bruno Fernandes limped off in the defeat at Villa Park.
Amorim then laid down his first marker by admitting he may not get the money necessary to perfect his 3-4-3 in his Christmas eve pre-match conference ahead of the Toonâs visit.
Speaking after the 1-0 win over Newcastle, Amorim then made an interesting comment on failing to reach common ground with transfer boss Wilcox.
He said: âI have one idea, Jason and board have another idea â every decision that we make, we need to reach a common ground, that is really important.
âBecause you donât need to make everything for the manager because the manager can change and you need to change everything but the manager understands the way of playing.â
Amorim then walked in with a huge frown on his face on Friday January 2 at Carrington.
It was the grouchiest this reporter has ever seen Amorim, who before that walked into pre-match conferences with a smile on his face and regular jovial quips for the room.
He then uncharacteristically point-blank refused to answer a question and gave short, pointed replies to others.
Amorim was asked to explain why he did not know the position around recruitment when he joined United from Sporting in November 2024.
âI donât want to talk about that,â he said. âI just focus on the Leeds game.â
Amorim then said he did not regret his comments prior to the Newcastle match before being asked again, by the same journalist, if something had changed in relation to the transfer budget. Once more, he replied: âI donât want to talk about that.â
Then, after a brief pause, and after the United media official sitting next to Amorim at the press conference had begun to say who would ask the next question, the Portuguese added: âBut you are very smart, soâŠâ
Then came the extraordinary rant at Leeds two days later.
A recent report claimed Christopher Vivell, Unitedâs head of recruitment, called on Amorim to adapt his system after a particularly detailed explanation by Fulham boss Marco Silva of his plan to counter it following the 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage in August.
While United officials have tried to create a picture of harmony, their words are being tested by Amorim.
He clearly thinks the parameters of the job he was sold have changed.