Ask any one of our millions of worldwide fans, and you’ll probably get a different answer about that. Because – let’s not shirk the issue here – last term was our worst season in more than 50 years. It’s been a period of rapid change at the club, both on and off the pitch.
But what’s next?
Well, some football fans are pessimists; some optimists. I fall squarely into the second camp because… well, I guess the simple way of explaining it is that I find it easier to live life with a positive mindset.
But I feel militantly proud and energised by the fact that defying the odds and overcoming challenges, difficulties and even tragedy is a fundamental part of this club’s DNA. When you’ve won the European Cup a mere 10 years after half your squad was killed… getting back into the Champions League feels pretty achievable.
It’s also reassuring to note that Amorim warned us, just days after taking over, that “the storm” that occurred last season was something he anticipated. Maybe a 15th-placed finish was not foreseen, but teething pains were.
That was something Omar Berrada also alluded to in his in-depth recent interview with United We Stand: that the decision to appoint Amorim mid-season was taken with the long-term in mind, not just the remainder of last season. And that what we “suffered” in Ruben’s first months is “really going to help us in the future”.
