Manchester United’s squad has not looked as bonded as they do right now for years.
This summer has seen Ruben Amorim somehow manage to recover squad morale despite how utterly terrible the 2024/25 season was for Manchester United.
After finishing 15th in the Premier League big changes were needed by the head coach, and that is exactly what happened.
Amorim exiled five United players prior to pre-season commencing, telling them to train alone and find a new club, brutally axing five considered not good enough, or a player who has shown attitude problems one too many times.
In response to exiling these five players, United have signed two of the Premier League’s best, which should be a massive upgrade, with Matheus Cunha already impressive and Bryan Mbeumo looking good in training.
Aside from the obvious improvements in terms of playing quality, United have also seen positive signs around the squads mentality.
Now, Luke Shaw has admitted that Amorim has one quality that other recent managers have not.
Luke Shaw on why Ruben Amorim will succeed at Manchester United
Over recent years, United’s bad moments have been equally due to quality on the pitch as it has the mentality off the pitch.
Instances like Alejandro Garnacho speaking out after the Europa League final loss, which is something that any functioning team cannot put up with.
But now, speaking with press on Tuesday, Shaw has claimed United have no stragglers left, with everyone now working together to achieve the same goals.
“His mentality, his demands, he’s extremely tough on the group and I think he leaves no stone unturned. There’s no stragglers in this group anymore, everyone has to put the team first, he’s made that very clear.
“He’s picking players based on how he feels will be best for the team and that’s his choice and us as players are fully behind him, and on his ideas.
“We feel like a real team, especially this pre-season since I’ve been back the group is so together and I think that’s something we need to keep to make us more of a family and to make sure we are all driving in the same direction.”
Shaw speaks very well about Amorim which is a positive sign, as without all the current squad believing in his decisions, the head coach would be on thin ice.
No manager post Sir Alex Ferguson has had a squad with zero stragglers, so hopefully this change is what the club needs to get back to the top.
Luke Shaw sets lofty Premier League target for Manchester United
Shaw has been at United the longest of any current player and so is well placed to judge Amorim and the feeling around the club.
After praising the positive changes being made, Shaw also set a lofty goal for the United during the 2025/26 campaign.
“Aims wise, I think the aim has to be winning the Premier League. I know people will be questioning me for saying that after last season but you know it has to be that and it’s not just me that thinks that, I am sure the whole team if you asked them, they all have the same aims, even the manager but I am sure he wouldn’t say it in the press.
“But you know we all have to have the same beliefs and ambitions and like I said that real family feeling together and we’ll all strive for the same thing.
“In my opinion yeah i do [think United’s squad can challenge], I think if you look at our squad, we do have such a good squad.
“I think it’s just about unlocking that potential that we have and finding ways of all being able to play together and release the potential I know our players have, I see it in training day in day out the quality that we have, we have such unbelievable players and it’s time we start showing that in games.”
Winning the Premier League right now looks incredibly unlikely, however stranger things have happened in football.
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