"I made a lot of mistakes." That was Ruben Amorim's blunt summary of his Manchester United spell as he settled into life at AC Milan. He said the experience taught him enough to feel better prepared for the next job, and that the failures were part of why Milan trusted him.
Amorim's assessment of United
Amorim was sacked in January after rising tensions with Manchester United's board. The numbers around his Premier League spell were bleak enough on their own. United won 32% of his league games, conceded 1.53 goals per game and kept clean sheets in just 15% of those matches.
He did not try to shift all of that away from himself. "It would be hard to point to one thing, but the important thing that I clearly know is that I made a lot of mistakes," he said. "When you do this kind of reflection, and you understand that it was not just their fault, but also my fault, I think you can be a better coach and a better man."
Why Milan backed him
Amorim said AC Milan appointed him last month because they wanted the way he plays, but also because of what he had lived through at a top club like Manchester United. He said the meetings with Mr Cardinale included those reflections, and that the club understood he was prepared for the job because of his success and his failures.
He also said the move felt easier because he has been a Milan fan since he was a boy and understands the club's culture and history. "For me, it was easier this time," he said. "Our goal is to be the new future."
That is the useful part of this story. Amorim is not pretending the United spell was anything other than a failure, but he is also turning it into evidence that he has been tested properly. Milan finished 5th in Serie A in 2025, so they were not hiring a manager for sentiment. They were hiring one who believes the harsh lesson at United has already made him better prepared for the next job.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
