Manchester United have already Rúben Amorim with a decision that fans have slammed as a “disgrace” recently.
Rúben Amorim has spent the past two weeks familiarising himself with his squad as he gears up for his first set of matches as Manchester United‘s head coach.
Acknowledging the packed fixture schedule, Amorim has highlighted the limited time he has to implement his system with key players like Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martínez.
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The opening games, however, will provide him with a crucial opportunity to assess his squad in competitive action, identifying both collective strengths and individual areas for improvement.
Players such as Amad Diallo, Alejandro Garnacho, and Noussair Mazraoui have already been tested in new roles, with further experimentation expected in the months ahead.
Off-field problems
However, while many fans are excited at the prospect of Amorim’s football taking United back to a much more competitive and rewarding level, the club have been slammed for a recent off-field decision to raise ticket prices.
United have hiked prices for all remaining tickets for Old Trafford games this season to £66 each, regardless of the age of the person buying them. This eliminates concessions for young fans and over-65s, making the club significantly less accessible for working-class supporters.
In reaction, Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) has quite rightly slammed the club and branded the decision a “disgrace” for both getting rid of the concessions and failing to consult fans over the sudden change.
“These changes are a disgrace, both in their substance and in how the club has gone about making them,” MUST wrote in an open letter to club CEO Omar Berrada.
“First, you are making changes to ticket prices mid-season, with immediate effect. This has never happened before.
“Secondly, the scale of the increase to individual fans is at a level never seen before — as much as a 40% increase for adults and 164% for kids. The worst aspect of this is the removal of discounts for children and seniors.”
The full letter can and should be read by all United fans here.
Completely undermining Amorim
Now, choosing to hike the prices mid-season is a move that ultimately undermines the new head coach as he looks to rebuild a broken atmosphere at the club and Old Trafford.
Amorim has shown how much he cares for United’s fans, calling them one of the club’s “greatest weapons” in a new release.
“Now, I cannot fix this situation alone, and neither can any of the players or staff,” Amorim wrote in his pre-match programme notes ahead of the Bodo/Glimt tie.
“This is not about any individual at the club. This is about what we can become together by working hard, enjoying ourselves and having no fear.
I must say that, for all the potential inside the club, I believe one of the greatest weapons of Manchester United is the fanbase.”
I’m sure United have their reasoning and logic for the decision, but when the manager is looking to build a bond with loyal followers, pricing them out of attending games is an ill-timed and irrational move that benefits no one but the club’s short-term pockets.
While there is yet to be a response from the club or Berrada, the new chief has previously shown his desire to communicate proactively with fans, and we hope to see a response soon.
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