According to Manchester Evening News, Ruben Amorim has highlighted the importance of leadership to help Manchester United navigate their current difficulties.
The manager discussed his squad's anxiety and nervousness ahead of their upcoming match at Anfield, a ground that has recently intensified their struggles.
Amorim touched on these concerns following the 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth before Christmas and continued to bring up the issue during his Friday press conference, emphasizing that his team is "starving for leaders."
Having had a significant amount of time with his players on the training field, Amorim is hopeful that his squad can show improvement, but he acknowledged that overcoming their mental barriers would require a shift in mentality, in addition to tactical and technical progress. Reflecting on the team's preparation, Amorim mentioned, "The small things, the transitions, I think you can see the lack of possession in the last game in the first half, the control of the game. Everybody was so anxious, so nervous."
Amorim recognized that the team is going through a challenging phase and that his main focus is on helping them avoid these difficult moments. He believes that with stronger leadership on the pitch and his guidance, Manchester United can halt their recent decline. However, this issue of mental fragility is not new. When Ralf Rangnick took over as interim manager in December 2021, he made a significant move by bringing in a sports psychologist, Sascha Lense, marking the first such appointment at the club since 1999. After Rangnick's departure, Lense's absence has left a void in the team's mental coaching.
Rangnick had long advocated for mental coaching, explaining that the psychological aspect of football is just as crucial as physical training. "The major part [of football] is up here [the head]: what do you think, how do you analyse the situation?" he remarked. He emphasized that just as players need specialized coaches for various aspects of the game, they also require someone to help them align their mindset with their performance.
In his time with United, Rangnick utilized Lense's expertise, making him available to the squad before matches, in order to address recurring issues such as losing leads. "When you are 1-0 up in three consecutive games and concede an equalizer, it affects the mindset of the players," Rangnick said. Despite these efforts, the same mental issues seem to persist, and the club still struggles with anxiety when things start to go wrong.
While Amorim's tactical approach may eventually bring a new perspective, the deep-seated mental challenges that have long affected United remain present. It will take time for Amorim's methods to take full effect, but it is clear that the team is still grappling with the psychological issues that continue to impact their performance.
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