Defeat by ASEAN All Stars: 3 Major Mistakes by Ruben Amorim That Made MU Fail

Ruben Amorim, the manager of Manchester United, faced heavy criticism and pressure after his team’s 0-1 loss to the ASEAN All Stars in a friendly match at Bukit Jalil Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, on May 28, 2025. This defeat added to MU’s poor record during one of the worst seasons in decades, including finishing 15th in the English Premier League standings and failing to qualify for European competitions.

Ruben Amorim’s Mistakes Contributing to the Defeat

1. System and Tactics Not Fully Optimized
   Amorim admitted that the playing system he implemented had not been well received by the players. He stated that all elements of the team, including himself, performed below the expected standard, resulting in many unacceptable lost matches for a club as big as Manchester United. In the match against ASEAN All Stars, although MU dominated possession and launched many attacks, they failed to create effective clear chances, while the tight defense of the ASEAN All Stars frustrated MU’s forwards.

2. Poor Emotion Management and Communication
   After a previous loss to Brighton, Amorim expressed his emotions by damaging a television in the locker room and calling his team “the worst team in Manchester United’s history.” This emotional outburst reflected the immense pressure he was under but also showed a lack of control that affected the team’s morale. His overly honest statements about the team’s condition also drew criticism as they were seen to damage the players’ confidence.

3. Inadequate Player Substitutions and Strategy
   In the match against ASEAN All Stars, Amorim made several substitutions at the 30th minute, but these changes failed to alter the course of the game or improve MU’s attacking effectiveness. Losing to a team composed of the best Southeast Asian players showed that Amorim’s strategies and tactical decisions were still unable to overcome the disciplined opposition.

Impact of Amorim’s Mistakes on the Defeat

Mistakes in the implementation of the playing system, emotion management, and inappropriate tactical decisions caused MU to fail to break down the tight ASEAN All Stars defense and ultimately concede at the 71st minute by a goal from Myanmar’s Maung Maung Lwin. This defeat confirmed that the team’s fundamental problems remain unresolved, and pressure on Ruben Amorim is increasing to improve the team’s performance in the future.