Manchester United defender Harry Maguire believes the club is poised for a fresh start in the upcoming season, as they look to bounce back from an underwhelming 2024-25 campaign.
The Red Devils suffered a dismal season despite changing managers midway into the season, with Ruben Amorim succeeding Erik Ten Hag in November.
Their 15th-place finish and 42 points were the worst-ever finish and points tally accrued by the club since the 1973-74 season, when they were relegated into the second tier.
They suffered further setback in the Europa League final, losing 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur to end any hopes of playing in Europe in the 2025-26 season.
“The lads are working hard and it’s a great atmosphere in the place,” Maguire said in an interview with former Man United defender Rio Ferdinand.
“We want to be successful, we’re doing everything we can to be successful. Sometimes we know it’s not been good enough for a recent [period] and we’ve not given our fans as much.
I feel like it’s almost a little bit of a fresh start and hopefully this start is a good start”, he continued.
Manchester United enjoyed a successful preseason campaign in the United States, winning the Premier League Summer Series ahead of West Ham United, Everton and Bournemouth.
The squad has also been bolstered with the likes of Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Mattheus Cunha joining in big-money moves, giving fans optimism ahead of the new season.
“There has been a transition period, obviously, when Sir Alex [Ferguson] was here and we had the best team by far and won all the trophies,” Maguire added.
“But the reality is that we’re not the best team. You’ve got to thrive off the pressure and you’ve got to play like you’re playing in a playground. I think that’s what we’ve struggled to find over the last 10 years.”
Ruben Amorim’s side begin their 2025-26 EPL campaign with a tough clash against rivals Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday, with eyes firmly set on making improvements in the new campaign.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
