“The goal has to be to win the Premier League. I know people will question me for saying that after last season, but it has to be that way,” Luke Shaw told Sky Sports during Manchester United’s preseason tour of America. “We all have to have the same beliefs and ambitions, and that sense of family, and we’ll fight for the same thing.” That wasn’t just a questionable statement; it was almost delusional after the worst campaign in the club’s history.
Shaw's comments initially aged poorly, as United won just two of their first six Premier League games in the 2025-26 campaign. A dismal 3-1 defeat at Brentford left Ruben Amorim 's side in 14th place at the end of September, with the vast majority of fans calling for the Portuguese manager's dismissal.
But everything has changed in the last month. The Red Devils finally came alive by dispatching rising Sunderland 2-0 at Old Trafford, before ending a nine-year winless run at Anfield, securing Ruben Amorim 's first consecutive victories in his turbulent reign.
United secured their third in a row on Saturday, beating Brighton 4-2 to climb into the European places, six points behind leaders Arsenal. The Seagulls threatened a sensational comeback late on, but Bryan Mbeumo secured the points, which was the least the home side deserved.
“I think they have more confidence,” Ruben Amorim told reporters when asked what has driven his players’ recent improvement. “I think the best game we played this season was against Arsenal, the first one. But then, when you have a bit more confidence, when you have a different spirit, sometimes you have a bit of luck at certain moments in the game that helps you win.”
After so many months of misery, United are finally making their own luck, and suddenly, Shaw's bold statement of intent sounds more like prophecy. Few outsiders would consider the possibility of the Premier League trophy returning to Old Trafford after a 13-year absence, but now, that must absolutely be the objective for Ruben Amorim and his ever-improving side. This is more than just a resurgence; United are playing their best football of the entire post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
And there are many reasons to believe that Ruben Amorim can hand over the title two years ahead of schedule set by the co-owners of INEOS.
The lethal combination of Mbeumo and Amad
There was widespread concern about Amad Diallo's future after United signed Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford for £71 million ($95 million) in the summer. Amad was the team's second-best player last season, behind only Bruno Fernandes, and provided a number of memorable moments down the right flank. Mbeumo, meanwhile, arrived after a 20-goal season in the same position at Brentford, and it was difficult to see how Ruben Amorim could fit the Cameroonian and Amad into the same starting eleven. However, they have forged a lethal partnership that has been the driving force behind United's resurgence.
Amad has taken on a new wing-back role, with Mbeumo ahead of him in one of the No. 10 positions within Ruben Amorim 's 3-4-3 formation . The electrifying duo has meshed perfectly, particularly against Liverpool, when Amad set up his new partner to score the opening goal after just two minutes with a superb outside-of-the-foot pass.
“At first, since he was a new player, we tried to understand each other,” Amad told United’s official media. “But now we’ve found a solution: when he plays at right-back, I play at No. 10. When he plays at No. 10, I stay at right-back. So I think we have a very good relationship now, even off the pitch.” If one of them doesn’t make the breakthrough in the final third, the other will. Amad’s numbers have decreased because he now has more defensive work, but it’s a small price to pay to facilitate Mbeumo’s quicker integration.
The former Brentford man is quickly becoming the Premier League's most valuable summer signing, with six goal contributions in his first 10 games.
A 'Special' Cunha
Matheus Cunha has not adapted to Old Trafford as quickly as Mbeumo. Signed for £62,5 million ($83 million), the Brazilian striker was presented as the answer to United's goalscoring problems, but he failed to score in his first eight games under Ruben Amorim.
However, Cunha's form has been consistently high; he's an aggressive runner and a skilled dribbler who rarely makes the wrong decision with the ball. Therefore, his stunning goal against Brighton was a huge relief, celebrated with euphoria in front of the Stretford End.
“He brings something that’s hard for us to put into words; it’s not just skill and talent,” Ruben Amorim told MUTV. “He has something that makes him really comfortable playing in this kind of environment. He needs to improve a lot of things, especially on defense, but he has something special and he’s a very important player for us.”
De Ligt finally reaches maturity
Matthijs de Ligt's debut season at Old Trafford was disappointing. Therefore, this was a pivotal year for the Ajax academy graduate. So far, the 26-year-old has played with a clear understanding of the stakes. Ruben Amorim has generally preferred De Ligt ahead of Harry Maguire in the center of his three-man defense, rewarding the Dutch international for his dominance in aerial and ground duels, as well as his tactical awareness and leadership.
“The first really important thing is that I had a proper preseason… mentally and physically, I’m in a very good place,” De Ligt told MUTV, emphasizing that he feels at his best. You can’t win the title without a strong defense, and De Ligt is playing a vital role in building that foundation under the guidance of Ruben Amorim.
A massive cultural shift
Ruben Amorim has faced some tough times since being appointed Ten Hag's successor last November. However, the former Sporting CP boss has shown tremendous courage in sticking to his principles. With a blend of meticulous work and charisma, Amorim has gotten the players to understand his philosophy. He has also subtly adapted United's off-the-ball play, which now features a 5-4-1 formation, making them much harder to beat and more dynamic on the counter-attack.
Ruben Amorim 's squad management is also expert, with a greater focus on rotation and recovery that has drastically reduced the club's injury list. Disruptive failures with inflated egos were discarded in the summer, while players like Casemiro, De Ligt, and Amad have elevated their level under Amorim 's guidance . Everyone is now pulling in the same direction.
Quality decline elsewhere
United don't have the same squad depth as Arsenal, City, or Liverpool, but without European commitments, Ruben Amorim doesn't need to push his team to the limit. They can also benefit from the undeniable drop in quality at the top of the table. Guardiola's City are no longer the same, and Liverpool, the reigning champions, have entered a crisis under Arne Slot.
The path appears clear for Arsenal to secure their first Premier League crown since 2004, but United's resurgence under Ruben Amorim suggests there could be an exciting title race.
