Manager Ruben Amorim has launched a scathing attack on Harry Amath and Chido Obi for posting a photo on Instagram in response to comments about the academy last week, labeling them as “entitled” and saying it epitomizes the atmosphere surrounding the Manchester United team.
Amorim raised concerns about both players last week, saying Amath were currently “struggling” with Sheffield Wednesday at the bottom of the Championship and that Chido was not featuring regularly for the club’s Under-21s. These comments did not sit well with the players, but on Monday, when the comments surfaced, both players uploaded photos of their success to their Instagram accounts.
Amas shared an image of himself winning the Player of the Month award on Wednesday, while Chido’s post featured him celebrating his goal for the Under-21s.
Amorim insisted his comments were not negative and said the reactions of the two 18-year-olds were representative of the sense of entitlement he believes continues to permeate the club.
“I think it’s the sense of entitlement we have at the club,” he said. “For children, sometimes strong words aren’t bad words, and sometimes difficult moments aren’t bad.
“You don’t always have to be praised in every situation and in everything. We are not helping. So when you talk about a lot of players these days, they are against the club, but it all happened because they feel entitled.”
“I always have to fight this feeling. On the pitch I am the first to say that I have failed this club. There is a feeling that I have not performed as well as I should have, but off the pitch I guarantee that I have not failed this club.”
“I think that’s what we have at our club and 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. It’s all about the environment, it’s the players’ moments and I understand they are kids who feel entitled.”
“They feel free to reply to the manager with pictures, my office is open and no one comes to talk to me. And that’s how we can resolve things. I think we need to change as a club first and then everything will change.”
Amorim stressed that the door remains permanently open if either young person wishes to discuss what he has said.
“I didn’t say anything wrong, I was just talking about how lucky I was to play for Manchester United,” he explained. “Sometimes when you play for Manchester United, you see a different reality and you realize that football can be so different and that you’re really lucky to be at Manchester United.
“That was my point, but again, I think these things change, so let’s take our time and move on.”
