Ruben Amorim has placed everything on the line for the Europa League following Manchester United’s dismal Premier League performance, with the stakes for both this season and the next resting on securing victory in the tournament.
The Portuguese coach stepped in for the dismissed Erik ten Hag in November, finding United languishing in a pitiful 13th position in the standings. Now, they have slipped to 14th.
The reason Amorim is not facing greater scrutiny is largely down to the widespread recognition of the immense challenge he faces at Old Trafford.
United, once a powerhouse in English football under the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, are poised to finish the season with their poorest points total in the Premier League’s history.
However, Amorim’s squad still has a chance to salvage the season by clinching the Europa League title, which would grant them a berth in next year’s Champions League.
A return to the elite European competition could significantly alter United’s short-term outlook, enhancing their financial position and making Old Trafford a more appealing prospect for prospective new signings.
Yet, United must navigate a challenging semi-final clash against Athletic Bilbao, who are currently occupying fourth place in La Liga, and have the extra motivation of knowing the final will take place at their own stadium.
“San Mames will roar. We want to keep this dream alive,” tweeted Bilbao in the lead-up to Thursday’s first leg in the Basque Country.
The victors of this tie will face either a struggling Tottenham side or Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt in the final.
Lyon Comeback
United staged a remarkable comeback to eliminate Lyon in the quarter-finals, netting three goals in just seven minutes to leave an astonished Old Trafford faithful in disbelief.
Alas, they have since reverted to their problematic ways, suffering a defeat to Wolves and managing only a draw against Bournemouth as Liverpool matched their tally of 20 top-tier English titles.
Amorim, now 40, acknowledges that clinching the Europa League would be a monumental boost for his faltering side.
“In this context, winning something like that is massive for us for our confidence – and then, to the future, to the next season,” he remarked.
“Competing in the Champions League changes the entire situation. The atmosphere, our approach to the summer, our budget for the summer – everything is intertwined with this competition.”
Surprisingly, despite their abysmal run in the Premier League, United remain the only club unbeaten across the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League this season.
The Red Devils were well in control of the second leg against Lyon at Old Trafford, but familiar vulnerabilities crept back in to haunt them.
They managed to secure a miraculous 5-4 win in the second leg, thus progressing 7-6 on aggregate, but Amorim will be aware that such a stroke of luck is unlikely to repeat itself and that his team must assert themselves.
On a positive note for United, Rasmus Hojlund scored just his second Premier League goal since early December during a 1-1 stalemate at Bournemouth on Sunday.
Captain Bruno Fernandes, United’s leading scorer with 17 goals across all competitions this season, expressed hope that this goal would instil confidence in the Danish striker.
“Everyone that plays here who has the qualities to get into the box to score goals has to do it,” he told MUTV.
“We’re all very pleased to see a striker scoring, and hopefully, it will give him a little push for what lies ahead.“
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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