Man Utd
Amorim: I Thought About Leaving After Europa League Loss but Now Feels United Are Connected
Amorim said he once considered quitting after the Europa League defeat but now feels the club united
Ruben Amorim has admitted he briefly questioned his future at Manchester United after the club lost the Europa League final, but says the mood around the squad has shifted as players have started to show their true ability.
A summer overhaul brought Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško to refresh United’s frontline and to provide profiles suited to Amorim’s preferred 3-4-2-1 system. That recruitment, combined with a run of three straight wins, represents a clear change of direction. United had failed to win back-to-back matches of any kind during Amorim’s first 11 months in charge and had won only one of their first five games in 2025–26.
Victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday could temporarily lift the club to second in the Premier League, a sign of how recent results have eased some of the gloom that has surrounded Old Trafford.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Amorim opened up about the pressure he felt after the Europa League disappointment and the struggles early in the season. He said: “It’s hard to say that. Sometimes, in some moments,” Amorim said, reflecting on the fact United also won only one of their first five games in 2025–26. “There were some moments that were tough to deal with, to lose so many games. That was so hard for me because this is Manchester United .
“The position that we had in the last year, putting all the attention on the Europa League and not winning. That was massive. I had some moments that I struggled a lot and I was thinking that maybe it’s not meant to be.
“Today is the opposite. So you can write this one. Today I feel and I know that was the best decision in my life. I want to be here but for that I need to win against Nottingham Forest.”
Amorim also warned that progress must be protected and that the team still has work to do. “It’s hard to say. We need to think positively, but we also need to be prepared that football is [up and down]. And we are not that team that I can say to you, no, no, no.
“Now we can lose here or there, but we are going to maintain. I trust in my players more. I think they trust me more. That will come with wins. And you can sense that because everyone now is saying that, how connected they are and they believe in the manager.
“It’s about winning games. It didn’t change a lot because against Arsenal , I saw the same team, so I don’t know.
“I think that we are in a better place, but it’s also really good to be always with that feeling and prepare that something can change. If we have that feeling, we’ll pay attention to the details and we’ll maintain that course of our path.
“I can say that we are a better team in this moment, and we feel that and we know that, and that can help us to overcome better the bad moments.”
Man Utd
United enter Semenyo chase as £65m clause approaches
United weigh a move for Antoine Semenyo as his £65m release clause nears activation next month soon.
Manchester United have emerged as reported “serious rivals” to Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in the race for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo as his £65 million release clause nears activation next month.
After 16 league rounds Ruben Amorim’s side have scored 30 goals, level with leaders Arsenal and behind only Manchester City, who have 38. That offensive output has reduced the urgency to add attacking firepower compared with last season, but transfer market opportunism is shifting priorities.
United’s lack of depth at the top of the pitch has been underlined by the temporary departures of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon and Ivory Coast respectively, and by Benjamin Šeško only recently returning from injury. A couple of injuries while players are on international duty could leave the front line short, which is informing interest in Semenyo.
Sky Sports writes United are “firmly in the race” for Semenyo as the Ghana international’s £65 million release clause becomes active next month. Manchester City are “keeping close tabs” and Tottenham remain in the mix, but United feel the release clause is an opportunity they must “genuinely consider,” even if adding another forward was not the original plan.
Semenyo scored against United at Old Trafford in Monday’s pulsating 4-4 draw, and his long-standing profile on United’s radar means interest is not a knee-jerk reaction.
Any approach carries a financial caveat: it must not reduce funds available to recruit a midfielder in the summer. Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba, Conor Gallagher, João Gomes, André, Angelo Stiller and Éderson have all been linked, with reported price ranges from £30–£100 million.
United’s failure to beat Bournemouth despite four goals underlined defensive issues. Conceding two goals in quick succession after half time has been a recurring problem, and 26 goals conceded leaves the club with the sixth worst defensive record this season. “I think we are pressing better, we are controlling games better far from our goal,” he said. “But we need to work a lot in the way we defend the box. ]
Bournemouth
Four-Goal Comeback Drama Sees United and Bournemouth Share the Spoils
Eight-goal thriller at Old Trafford: both teams exposed in a relentless, chaotic draw. Tense finale!
Manchester United and Bournemouth played out a relentless 4-4 draw at Old Trafford in a match defined by rapid momentum swings and clinical finishing. United twice led in the first half before Bournemouth rallied after the interval to take a 3-2 lead. United then moved ahead again, only for Junior Kroupi to force an 84th-minute equaliser and ensure the points were shared.
The evening began with United dominant. Diogo Dalot’s cross caused confusion in the box and Amad nodded in the opener. Bournemouth responded through Antoine Semenyo, who cut through hesitant passing on the hosts’ left and finished into the bottom corner. Casemiro restored United’s lead with a late first-half header from a corner.
The second half exposed the space left by an isolated United midfield. Marcus Tavernier exploited that gap, first laying on a chance that Evanilson finished and then scoring himself after a quick counter-attack to give Bournemouth a 3-2 advantage. United hit back quickly: Bruno Fernandes produced a top-corner free kick to level and Matheus Cunha fired United back in front shortly after.
Kroupi’s composed finish amid a cluster of defenders brought Bournemouth level again at 4-4. At the death, Senne Lammens made two superb stoppage-time saves to deny Bournemouth a winner.
Several United performers stood out. Bruno Fernandes was influential in possession and scored from a free kick. Amad received strong marks for his industrious contribution, while Matheus Cunha’s movement caused persistent problems for the visitors. Senne Lammens made important late saves despite being beaten by precise finishes from Semenyo and Evanilson earlier.
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola had warned his players of the difficulty ahead: “It’s true that we have good memories,” Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola wistfully recalled of his recent trips to Old Trafford ahead of kickoff. “Unfortunately, today is going to be more difficult.” Ahead of the game Amorim told his players, “A change is coming,” but the wholesale tactical shift that had been suggested did not materialise on the night.
The game finished level after eighty-eight minutes of end-to-end action that left both sets of supporters with plenty to digest. Statistically United edged possession and xG but the final scoreline reflected a match of constant openings and exposed defensive moments.
Bournemouth
Man Utd Monitor Tyler Adams as Cost-Conscious Midfield Option
Man Utd have identified Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams as an affordable January midfield option.
Manchester United have opened a monitoring file on United States international Tyler Adams as they explore cost-effective midfield reinforcements ahead of the January window. Fabrizio Romano reports Adams has emerged as a candidate to potentially succeed Casemiro, with the 20-time English champions viewing the Bournemouth midfielder as a more realistic, cheaper option than other targets.
Sources suggest Adams could carry a manageable £40 million ($53.5 million) price tag, but the fee may prove secondary. The Cherries reportedly “insist” on keeping the USMNT midfielder and consider him a very “important” player. With the likelihood of Antoine Semenyo leaving Bournemouth, the club would be vulnerable if they also lost Adams.
Manchester United continue to prioritise Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton at the top of their midfield wishlist, and the club is expected to allow wantaway midfielder Kobbie Mainoo to leave this winter. Against that backdrop, Adams represents a cheaper alternative who can operate as the engine in front of the back line.
Ruben Amorim and Manchester United will get a close look at Adams when Bournemouth visit Old Trafford on Monday evening. The match is also notable for Adams personally: he has fond early memories of the stadium and has spoken openly about its influence on his ambitions.
“It’s just a special occasion,” Adams said on the Men in Blazers podcast . “This is what you grow up watching, whether you’re a fan or not. A fan of Manchester United walking into Old Trafford will change your perspective on everything.
“I played against Manchester United at Old Trafford during COVID[-19] with RB Leipzig. That was the first time I walked into Old Trafford and I was like, my dream is really to play in the Premier League because this is what it’s about right here.
“… Now being able to go back and play there multiple times and have good results, especially makes it a little bit better. So yeah, I always get excited to play against United.”
Adams, who won November’s Premier League Goal of the Month for his 47-yard strike against Sunderland, will be aiming for a commanding display to reinforce his standing as a realistic January target.
