Manchester United fans would love to forget what transpired last season, and the best way possible for that to happen is for the players to give it their all in the new campaign.
The Red Devils finished 15th in the Premier League, their worst-ever finish in the competition, while also losing to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final.
Despite the turmoil on the pitch, the United faithful never stopped supporting the team and Mason Mount, in an in interview with the official website, revealed how much the players are looking forward to righting the wrongs of last term.
He explained how the first-team stars are using the criticism as fuel, as they hope to repay the fans for the disastrous 24/25 campaign.
Repay the fans
“It’s a clean slate and we’re so excited to be able to have that opportunity,” Mount admitted. “A lot of people have said a lot of stuff about us as a group, and we ball that up and we use that energy in the best way we can, and that’s on the football pitch against other teams, and really competing and fighting for those three points.
“The whole of last season they were there with us throughout every single game supporting us, even though it was very, very difficult. We need to repay them for that and we can only do that with performances on the pitch.”
What better way to send a message to all the Premier League clubs than by starting strong against Arsenal, one of their fierce rivals and one of the most consistent teams in recent years.
And the England international feels the same. He revealed that the players are hungry to show how much they have improved when they step on to the pitch against the Gunners.
“I think to start with that game [against Arsenal] is going to be massive for us, to start on the front foot and really push forward.”
Start off the season vs Arsenal
“Every game that we’ll be playing will have that kind of focus to be able to perform and really kick on, and put what was wrong right this season coming.
“Every game is going to be a massive focus to keep that performance level really high and the details really high. To start off with that game, it doesn’t get much better than that.
“Last season wasn’t the standard that we know we can all be at and perform at, and as players you want to put it right. So there’s just that hunger there, and it’s just the anticipation of wanting to go and waiting for that first opportunity, that first game.
“It’s going to be a high-intensity game, that first game of the season, but as I said it’s that hunger to really perform and to put it right as a group and all be together in that.”
New style of play
As seen during pre-season, the 20-time English league champions seemed to play a much more aggressive game, both with and without the ball, with players claiming how much Ruben Amorim wants to instill an attacking philosophy within the team.
Mount reiterated the same, claiming the Portuguese tactician has been hard at work on the training ground with the players, who will have the chance to prove themselves come Sunday.
“I think for us it’s so important to start well, to start quick, to start with that intensity. We’re a team that definitely can push with that and win games with that intensity and the way we want to press, the way we want to move the ball and dominate the ball, and create chances.
“That’s the way the manager wants to play, so it’s exciting for us to see what we’re doing in training and put that into the games.”
Feature image Alex Livesey via Getty Images
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
