The graybeards – yes, including Roy Keane – will give the nod after a social scene sparked by academy players Harry Amass and Chido Obi after Ruben Amorim explained what he said were rights issues between players.
Amorim commented last week on Armas and Obi’s recent struggles, and players responded on social media, posting photos of their good times away from United’s first team. — Armas unveiled the Player of the Month award he won during his loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday, while Obi used a photo of him scoring for Manchester United’s U21s.
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Asked about the photos on Friday, Amorim defended his initial comments, saying players often don’t realize how special a club is unless they’re not involved, doubling down on the “E” word.
“I think it’s the sense of entitlement that our club has,” he said. “Sometimes tough words aren’t bad words, and sometimes hard times aren’t bad for kids.”
Ruben Amorim on youth players’ ‘rights’
To be fair, Amorim was more critical of the players’ reactions than how they felt.
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The Manchester United boss said his players were welcome to speak to him after hearing his comments last week and suggested the problem was about bravery on the internet taking precedence over personal conviction and confidence.
“I think it’s a problem with our club, we talk about players sometimes forgetting what it means to play for Manchester United. As a club we sometimes forget who we are and that’s how I feel. “I understand it’s all circumstances, it’s the players’ moments, it’s the kids they feel they have a right to. “They are free to respond to the manager with pictures and my office is open and no one comes and talks to me. This is how we solve problems. I think we as a club need to change first and then everything will change. “
Ruben Amorim
These are fair thoughts. Sure, they’ll continue to trouble Abmas and Obi and some of their teammates, but they’ll also send a message to everyone hoping for a better attitude.
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Considering Amorim spent much of last season bemoaning United’s mentality issues and then used the summer to shake up his squad, this feels like a good fight for him.
Armas, 18, who has already made seven first-team appearances at a young age, played 90 minutes in all but two Championship games since joining United on loan at the start of September.
Obi, who turned 18 last month, scored five goals and provided two assists in 15 games for Manchester United’s reserves. The Danish striker made seven appearances for Amorim in the second half of last season but has yet to be named in the Premier League’s top 18 this season.