Ruben Amorim outlines No.1 target for Man Utd stars this season – starting against Arsenal

Manchester United look to kick off the 2025-26 Premier League season by turning what became known last season at the ‘Theatre of Nightmares’ back into the Theatre of Dreams – something Ruben Amorim believes is a MUST this term

Ruben Amorim believes Manchester United’s route back to the top must be paved with Old Trafford victories. The Theatre of Dreams became the Theatre of Nightmares last season, with United losing nine of their 19 home games in the Premier League, conceding 28 goals and scoring just 23.

Amorim knows his team must turn their stadium into a fortress if they are going to once again challenge at the top of the table – and he revealed that the club’s £210million spending spree to forge an attack that will consist of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo was driven by a desire to bring some thrills back to Old Trafford.

Amorim said: “We’ve got to make it (Old Trafford) an enjoyable place for our fans. That is really important. We start with one game against Arsenal, a very good team. Everyone in this room thinks Arsenal are going to win. I know that. But we will be there on Sunday to change things.

“It’s not a mental thing – but it’s not just the players, it’s also the fans. In the (friendly) game against Fiorentina you could feel it. The fans were a little bit nervous. This feeling, you cannot change it in one day or one game. It’s a feeling that we have to fight. Everyone together – the players, the coaches and the fans. Together we are going to change things.

“If you want to win things and be a very strong team, then especially at home you have to win games.”

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United endured their worst top-flight season for 51 years, with Amorim unable to halt the slide after succeeding Erik ten Hag in November. Sesko has been signed from RB Leipzig for £73.6million – and the 22-year-old Slovakian’s arrival is likely to signal the departure of £72million flop Rasmus Hojlund to Inter Milan.

Mbeumo arrived from Brentford in a £71million package after United started the summer by triggering Cunha’s £62.5million buy-out clause at Wolves. Amorim believes his terrific trio can conjure up the magic to win games even when his team are second best.

He said: “I know that in some moments we are going to struggle because it’s a game against Arsenal. But we are more prepared and I feel we have more players who can help, in one moment, to change the momentum of the game.

“That gives you confidence. We have more options. If things are not working well, we can change. That gives me more confidence in every game. It’s that feeling that even if we struggle here and there in the way we play, we can still score.

“Cunha can catch the ball and do something. Bryan can make one run and be there to score a goal. These kinds of things can help us a lot.”

Amorim feels he has been able to put his fingerprint on the United team, with disruptive influences like Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho either booted out of the club or banished from the first-team picture. But he insists that the levels of expectation remain unchanged.

He added: “Since the first moment the team was my responsibility – and I feel the same. I am always under pressure to perform. It’s impossible to be here and not feel the pressure every day. I am just more confident that we can do it.

“We are ready for the season. We prepared well in pre-season. Now we start, we are going to struggle, but whatever you see on Sunday, we are going to improve during the season.

“We are prepared to win against Arsenal – and that’s the only thing that matters.”

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