Ruben Amorim was sacked by Manchester United on Jan 5, after he publicly spoke out against his own club’s front office and board room. Not only was Amorim not getting results at Old Trafford, but he also called out his superiors. That is toxic combination that will get you let go immediately. When Amorim was jettisoned, the club was in sixth place in the league.
They had a record of 24 wins, 18 draws and 21 losses in 63 games across all competitions, and a winning percentage of only 38%, the lowest of any United boss since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
Man United Preseason Tour 2026
Preseason Friendly #6 vs AC Milan
Kickoff: Sat. August 15, 2026 3.45pm BST
Venue: Tarczyński Arena, Wroclaw, Poland
Man United Preview Material: Team News Predicted Starting XI
Amorim also joined Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the only two United managers, post Sir Alex, not to win a single trophy during their tenure. David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho all won something. Michael Carrick is now in charge, and held the squad to a third place finish last season.
You know he will put forth a pretty strong team against Amorim and Milan on Saturday afternoon.
This match brings a lot more extra juice than your typical preseason friendly. It’s a match where the sentiment may not even be very “friendly.” Also, it might be time to just consider Ayden Heaven a starter now; he’s earned it.
Manchester United Predicted Starting XI vs AC Milan
Senne Lammens; Diogo Dalot, Ayden Heaven, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw; Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans; Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha; Bryan Mbeumo
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.