Ruben Amorim says Andre Onana needs to win his place | OneFootball

Ruben Amorim says he is confident going into the new season.

The head coach was speaking in the embargoed section of the pre-match presser ahead of United’s opening match of the 2025/26 season against Arsenal at Old Trafford tomorrow afternoon.

On his confidence ahead of tomorrow’s season opener

“[I’m] confident,” he said. “I know in some moments we will struggle because it is a game against Arsenal.

“We are more prepared. I think, I feel we have more players who can help us to change the momentum of the game. That can give you confidence.

“We have more options. If things are not working well, we can change things. That gives me more confidence in every game.”

“Yeah, it’s that feeling that we could struggle here or there in the way we play, but we can score. I think Cunha can, and you saw it last two seasons, he can catch the ball and create something. Bryan [Mbeumo] can make one run and he’s there to score a goal.

“These kind of things, I think, can help us a lot, especially in moments that we are struggling. One guy that can change the momentum of the game in the stadium.”

Will Onana walk back into the side?

Amorim was asked if Andre Onana will start against Arsenal tomorrow, having missed the whole of pre-season with injury.

“It’s like the other players. Everyone has to win the place,” he replied. “So I’m not going to say if one player is number one. He’s ready to go to the game. Let’s wait. You will know Sunday.”

Asked to confirm he still has confidence in the Cameroonian, he responded:

“I think we can me as a coach, our players that were here last year can do better. So I have full confidence in that.”

The boss was also asked a question about turning Old Trafford into a “fortress” as it used to be known.

“You have to make Old Trafford an advantage,” he said. “If you want to win things and to be a very strong team, especially at home, you need to win your games.”

Tactical questions

Asked to elaborate on how he imagines Amad’s partnership down the right hand flank with Bryan Mbeumo should develop, Amorim’s answer was:

“I just want, if Amad has the ball, he’s really strong on one against one. But if it’s not Amad, it’s Bryan. Really strong on the definition, one against one. So it’s not just one you have to control, you have to control both.

“They can play together, they can play alone, they can be both on the bench. You don’t know, but it’s more options for me to think how we are going to play every weekend.”

The topic then turned to defensive tactics and his preference for his central centre back to advance up the field.

“If you see who’s the guys that touch more the ball, it’s the centre-backs,” he explained. “So the centre-back is one more midfielder, it’s the guy that organises the game.

“So they need to improve and we need to try different things to play better.”

The season ahead

Does Amorim think there is more pressure on him to succeed this season, having had a full pre-season to prepare.

“Since the first moment, it was my responsibility,” he said. “I say that since the first day. So I feel the same. I’m always pressured to perform. It’s impossible to be here and not feel the pressure every day. So I’m just more confident that we can do better.

“We are ready for the season. We prepared well during the pre-season. Pre-season is pre-season.

“We are going to start, we are going to struggle, but what we are going to see on Sunday, we are going to work to improve and we are going to improve during the season, but we are prepared to win against Arsenal. That is the only thing that matters.”

Amorim’s words from the first part of the press conference can be seen here.

Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images

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