Ruben Amorim has admitted he made mistakes during his spell as Manchester United manager, insisting the experience taught him a great deal as he prepares for a new challenge at AC Milan.
Speaking at his first press conference since taking charge of the Serie A club, Amorim acknowledged that his 14-month run in the Premier League went wrong in several areas, culminating in United ending their partnership with him in January.
“It’s difficult to spell out the errors because to do that I’d need to go through the full background of that period,” Amorim said. “It’s not possible to list every mistake one by one. What I can say is that I learned a lot and I made some mistakes.”
“I didn’t get the chance, and I’m sorry for that, to speak directly to the Manchester United supporters. I’m truly proud to have been their coach for a year,” he added.
“But this is a new chapter now. There are many things I could have done better during the last experience, yet sometimes that’s how it is. You have to learn how to find the right place to take the next step, and that’s the mindset I’m bringing here.”
Amorim was appointed United boss in November 2024 following Erik ten Hag’s dismissal, but he was unable to reverse the club’s fortunes. United finished 15th in the Premier League, and they also suffered defeat in the Europa League final against Tottenham.
Even though they were sixth at the time of his departure, Amorim continued to attract criticism, particularly over his 3-4-3 tactical approach and what some viewed as a reluctance to give academy players enough opportunities.
“Everyone learns from their experience,” the 41-year-old Portuguese coach said. “I learned a lot. I made some mistakes. There are things I will try to change, and there are also things you never change. Still, I believe I will be a better coach.”
Across 63 games in charge of United, Amorim recorded 25 wins and 23 defeats. In the Premier League specifically, he won 15 of 47 matches, with a points-per-game figure of 1.23—United’s lowest average for a manager in the Premier League era.
Amorim has now agreed a three-year contract to succeed Massimiliano Allegri as Milan’s head coach.
