As Manchester United prepares for Wednesday’s Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur, manager Ruben Amorim has candidly stated that victory in the competition would not be enough to “redeem” what he describes as a “disappointing” season for the club.
Currently languishing in 16th place in the Premier League, the once-dominant United find themselves with the Europa League final in Bilbao as their sole remaining chance to secure a coveted spot in next season’s Champions League.
“Maybe people will look at our team in a different way because winning a European title is really important. It would help us to finish the season on a good note,” Amorim told reporters at his pre-match press conference. “But nothing is going to change our season. Players know it, the staff knows, the fans know, everybody knows.”
Amorim emphasized that while a European title could offer a crucial confidence boost and a foundation for future development, it wouldn’t erase the deep-seated issues that have plagued the club. “Winning a European title can help us to have that feeling that can help us to build for the future, but that’s it. I don’t think we are playing for more than winning the title.”
He also addressed the financial implications of missing out on the Champions League, noting, “Manchester United can survive financially without playing the Champions League. We have a lot of fans around the world, we are a big international brand. We have to focus on the project and doing things the right way.”
The Portuguese manager acknowledged the need for significant improvements across various aspects of the club, including recruitment and the academy system, but reiterated that these comprehensive changes would only be addressed after the season concludes. “I think it’s hard to speak about everything we need to change in this moment because we need to be excited and confident for the final, but we already know the problems we have,” Amorim said.
“There are a lot of things we need to change in our club. It’s hard to point to one thing. That will not be solved by winning a cup. I will say it again, for me, we have bigger things to deal with to put this club back to the top,” he stressed. “Tomorrow, it will be important for us and our fans that the feeling of winning can help us have the strength to do every job we have to do. We have a lot to do in our club, not just winning tomorrow, but tomorrow will be massive for us and our fans.”
Echoing his manager’s sentiments, United captain Bruno Fernandes insisted that the club should always be held to the highest standards. “Inside the club, all the players and the manager have been very cautious about calling it a successful season in the case we win this title,” Fernandes stated. “Obviously, we know we talk about the Europa League, and the Europa League is everything that is in our minds because we will play the final tomorrow, but that only means that we were successful in this tournament.”
He concluded, “In the Premier League, we haven’t been as good as we want, and all the other clubs are the same because our aim is obviously getting to the end of all the competitions and winning the trophies.”
