Ruben Amorim has expressed that he still holds Manchester United in high regard despite being dismissed as the club’s head coach earlier this year. The Portuguese manager, who was relieved of his duties after 14 months in January, is now at the helm of AC Milan and will return to English soil on Thursday when his team faces Bournemouth in the Europa League.

During his tenure at Manchester United, Amorim was openly critical of the club’s internal environment, describing a “feeling of entitlement” and urging the club’s leadership to refrain from interfering with his coaching role. His remarks have found resonance with Erik ten Hag, Amorim’s predecessor, who recently described Manchester United’s culture as “toxic” in a separate interview.

Manchester United’s performance under their current interim manager, Michael Carrick, has been underwhelming so far this season. Despite this, Amorim chose to respond diplomatically when asked about the club’s situation. He reiterated his affection for United, stating that his feelings have not changed and emphasizing that he has moved on to focus on his current role at AC Milan. “AC Milan has a lot of problems to solve, so I’m focused on our life, because in every big club, the trouble is around the corner,” he said.

At a press conference attended alongside Milan midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Amorim also addressed the England international’s mindset. Loftus-Cheek, who earned his last of 11 caps a year ago, indicated he was not focused on returning to the national team. Amorim noted concerns about Loftus-Cheek’s self-belief, saying, “The problem is he doesn’t believe he can play for the national team. I hear that in his voice, but he has the talent to do that, he’s a very talented boy.”

As Amorim prepares for his return to English competition, his candid reflections on Manchester United and current assessment of his players highlight the complexities facing top-level football managers both on and off the field.