RUBEN AMORIM is ready to get tough with his Manchester United flops as he chases a flying start next season.
The Red Devils boss wants to take a hardline pre-season approach in his quest to turn his “chokers” into Champions League material, with jobs — including his own — on the line.
And the Portuguese is determined that a lack of fitness will not be an excuse for his squad, in the wake of a disastrous campaign last time out — the club’s worst since the relegation season of 1973-74.
SunSport understands Amorim has delivered a list of instructions to ensure United are in top shape for the new Prem season, which starts on the weekend of August 16.
It is believed non-international players could return to the club’s Carrington HQ earlier than normal, with a suggestion some may be back training by the end of THIS month.
Amorim wants fitness levels to be sky high, demanding that players hit personal bests by mid-July.
And if they fail to achieve those targets then they face being sidelined from his United revolution.
Boss Amorim has also told his squad they need to be fitter than ever because he wants them to be all over their opponents “like white on rice” from day one next season.
It is understood Amorim has even quizzed his players on where they are going on holiday as he looks to shake up his failing squad and leave nothing to chance.
United finished 15th in the Prem and also lost in the Europa League final to Tottenham — meaning there will be no European football at Old Trafford next season.
Amorim — who initially did not want to join United from Sporting last November as he feared mid- season turbulence — needs an upturn in results and performance quickly, so he is focusing on an intense pre-season programme to get his men up to speed from the kick-off.
He is also keen to capitalise on rivals Manchester City and Chelsea having a disrupted start to the new Prem season should they go deep into the revamped Club World Cup this summer, with the final on July 13.
A club source said: “Amorim needs a good pre-season. He’s not shied away from the pressure he’s under.
“He would have always preferred to have arrived at United ahead of a new season rather than in the middle of it.
“He has to get this right. He’s told the players there are no more excuses. His job is on the line — and so too is theirs.
“The club can’t accept any more failures.”
Amorim is well aware of the pressure building and the scrutiny on his own position, never mind his players.
His side suffered an embarrassing 1-0 loss to the ASEAN All-Stars before a 3-1 win over Hong Kong on their two-game post-season tour to Asia.
Amorim slammed his players after the first game as “chokers” after they were booed off by Far East fans.
Following the second game on Friday, Amorim was asked if he had a summer message for his players — and hinted he feared for the condition of his stars during their time away from the club.
He replied: “I was a player and you can disconnect. They know that we under-performed badly this season.
“The important thing for me is the body composition, the weight and the training — they need to be ready.
“We have to use every minute in every week of the pre-season. So we need to arrive in shape.
“These small things, they have all the measures. We had a briefing about that. It’s the only way to take action to be better next season.
“They know, everyone knows that the next year is going to be massive for everybody.
“I have been sending messages every week and they know next year, it is clear that we need to be so much better.”
United face a big summer of transfer activity.
Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans have all left on free transfers, while the future of captain Bruno Fernandes hangs in the balance.
Amorim is closing in on a £62.5million deal for Wolves forward Matheus Cunha, while he has lined up Sporting’s Pedro Goncalves as a potential replacement for Fernandes if he takes the £100m offer from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal.
Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho is not in Amorim’s plans next season and is free to leave.
United begin their preparations with a friendly against Prem new boys Leeds in Stockholm on July 19.
Then the Red Devils are heading over to the USA for matches against West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton, before finishing a punishing pre-season schedule against Italian side Fiorentina at Old Trafford on August 9.
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