Opinion: After the storm, a rainbow?
Ruben Amorim closed last season by reassuring Manchester United's fans, urging them to get behind the idea that "the good times are coming".
But already, of course, the United story has moved on apace. Players have left. An exciting, high-profile new one has arrived: his name is Matheus Cunha.
And, unless you've been on a digital detox and this thing is the first piece of content you've clicked on, you're probably aware that the fixtures for the 2025/26 Premier League were released earlier today (Wednesday 18 June).
Next season is coming, and quickly. But how do we, as fans, feel about it?
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Ask any one of our millions of worldwide fans, and you'll probably get a different answer about that. Because – let's not shirk the issue here – last term was our worst season in more than 50 years. It's been a period of rapid change at the club, both on and off the pitch.
But what's next?
Well, some football fans are pessimists; some optimists. I fall squarely into the second camp because... well, I guess the simple way of explaining it is that I find it easier to live life with a positive mindset.
But I feel militantly proud and energised by the fact that defying the odds and overcoming challenges, difficulties and even tragedy is a fundamental part of this club's DNA. When you've won the European Cup a mere 10 years after half your squad was killed... getting back into the Champions League feels pretty achievable.
It's also reassuring to note that Amorim warned us, just days after taking over, that "the storm" that occurred last season was something he anticipated. Maybe a 15th-placed finish was not foreseen, but teething pains were.
That was something Omar Berrada also alluded to in his in-depth recent interview with United We Stand: that the decision to appoint Amorim mid-season was taken with the long-term in mind, not just the remainder of last season. And that what we "suffered" in Ruben's first months is "really going to help us in the future".
Berrada hinted in that UWS interview that there is more to come, too, saying: “We’re going to do our best to do more signings quickly.”
Put incomings and outgoings aside, and you've also got the boost of Bruno Fernandes's recent comments, suggesting that his career at Old Trafford will continue. That could arguably be the most important news of all.
This season there is a greater clarity from the outset: we start with a manager who is familiar to the squad and a style of football that has been worked on for months (and will have benefitted from a full pre-season). The focus is clear: Premier League success.
And though results did not always reflect it (largely due to those goalscoring issues), I'd argue that our interpretation of Amorim's 3-4-2-1 system showed gradually more cohesion as we progressed through the season. Players like Amad, Harry Maguire and Mason Mount showed clear development. Ayden Heaven and Chido Obi displayed youthful promise.
The final game against Villa was arguably the best example of our collective potential. Though a contentious refereeing decision dominated the headlines afterwards, the takeaway for United fans was a really comprehensive performance. We battered a very good side (with 10 shots on target to their one) in arguably Villa's biggest match of the season; one that cost them Champions League football.
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The moral of the story? That things can change for the better very quickly in football. And one day, they will at United. So why not live in hope?