Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has condemned the “feeling of entitlement” at the club and said players should use criticism and difficult moments as fuel to prove him wrong.
This week Amorim was confronted with a ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo’ T-shirt, being worn by the midfielder’s half-brother, in response to the England star’s repeated absence from the starting line-up.
And youngsters Harry Amass and Chido Obi posted – then deleted – pictures on social media highlighting their achievements after Amorim suggested last week they were not doing well.
Club legends Rio Ferdinand, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes have said that Mainoo would be better off leaving the club.
But Amorim feels this is the wrong approach. His thinking is more in line with former skipper Roy Keane, who says Mainoo should force his way into Amorim’s plans.
“There is a feeling of entitlement we have in our club,” he said in a news conference on Friday.
“Sometimes, difficult moments is not a bad thing for the kids. We don’t always need accolades in everything. We are not helping.
“Nowadays, they [players] speak and go against the club because they feel entitled. Then, we have legends of the club saying ‘if you don’t play, leave, because everyone is wrong’.
“No. Let’s stay. Let’s fight. Let’s overcome. The door to my office is open. That is the way we can solve things [but] nobody is coming to talk to me.”