Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has stated that his players will have to earn their spots in the starting lineup for the Europa League final by performing well in the club’s remaining Premier League fixtures.
However, he emphasized the importance of managing the squad to prevent injuries.
United secured their place in the Europa League final after defeating Athletic Bilbao, setting up a clash against Tottenham Hotspur. With their league campaign all but over—sitting 15th and unable to reach a top-half finish—Amorim said the focus would now shift to individual performances over the next three games, starting with West Ham on Sunday.
“We cannot save anything from the Premier League but I think it’s a good thing for them as we’ll not have a lot of training. They will fight for places in the final in these games,” Amorim told reporters.
He acknowledged that some players may have had their focus split during their recent narrow 4-3 loss to Brentford, hinting that preparations for the Bilbao clash might have played a role in that defeat.
“Against Brentford, we had some mistakes that I felt some of our players were thinking about the game (second leg against Athletic Bilbao). So we have to manage that,” he said.
“But we also have to acknowledge that we are Manchester United and we need to win games, also in the Premier League. We have to use every game to improve, even to prepare for the final, but especially to prepare for the future.”
West Ham, who are 17th, could leapfrog United with a win, especially if Amorim opts to rest key players. Despite criticism of United’s poor domestic form, the manager remains focused on making decisions that prioritize the club’s long-term goals.
“I agree with all the critics but, in this moment, I think it’s really clear and we have to be smart. We have to take a risk and we have to take the risk to get a lot of criticism from everybody,” he explained.
“But I have to make a choice. What is the best for the club, not what is the best for me. I make a choice in this moment (that) I’m going to try to save all the players, because it’s really important for us to win the final.”
Amorim confirmed that Bruno Fernandes is fit, while Harry Maguire remains a doubt ahead of the weekend fixture.
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