Manchester United can qualify for next season’s Champions League if they go all the way in the Europa League this term but their head coach isn’t getting carried away
Ruben Amorim said nothing can save Manchester United’s disastrous season and admitted winning the Europa League will not solve their problems. United take on Athletic Bilbao on Thursday night in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final, with the winners of the competition going straight into next season’s Champions League.
Lifting the trophy is United’s last chance to secure European football for next season, with Amorim’s erratic side currently down in 14th place in the Premier League. But Amorim said even if United win the Europa League and with it a £100million ticket to the Champions League, it will not be a cure for all of their ailments.
“We know nothing is going to save our season,” said Amorim. “But this can be huge.
“Winning a trophy to get into the Champions League to play European games next season could change a lot of things in our club in the summer. But it’s not the most important thing.
“It’s about something more, in the core of our club. We need to change a lot of things and we need to be consistent.
READ MORE: Ruben Amorim fires Man Utd warning over Athletic Bilbao but explains how they can winREAD MORE: Man Utd receive huge double injury boost as squad named for Athletic Bilbao trip
“Winning the Europa League is not going to change anything in our problems. It’s going to give us the Champions League next season and more money to spend, but the problems are still there.
“We have to change the minds of our fans with consistency, good decisions, good recruitment and a good academy. This is what we need to change to take our club back to the top.
“This is more of a shortcut to go to the European games – nothing more. The problems we need to solve in a different way with more time and we’re all really clear on that.”
United have named Matthijs de Ligt and Amad in their travelling squad for Bilbao. The pair have both been missing for a number of weeks, but could have a part to play on Thursday night.
Opponents Athletic have been dealt an injury blow of their own, with Oihan Sancet unable to play a part. The 25-year-old, who has 17 goals this season, faces a race against time to return for the second leg at Old Trafford next week.
“He’s ruled out for tomorrow,” Athletic manager Ernesto Valverde said in the lead-up to the first leg. “We’ll see what happens next. We’ll go for what will work for us.”
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