There is progress away from the matches under the new Manchester United head coach. Ruben Amorim's press conference started 20 minutes earlier than scheduled at the Doosan Arena.
United were also bang on schedule for their 10.15am training session at Carrington on Wednesday morning. Erik ten Hag memorably dropped Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford for their tardiness during his first season but the former United manager's own timekeeping became worse than the White Rabbit's. Both European away press conferences in Porto and Istanbul this season began at gone 9pm and 9.38pm local time.
The last time United won away from home in Europe was at Real Betis in March 2023. The League Cup was a new attraction in the Old Trafford museum less than three weeks on from winning at Wembley and United had were in the round-of-16 of the Europa League by overcoming Barcelona over two pulsating ties.
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Amorim is desperate to avoid a two-legged play off in February. The top eight teams in the Europa League automatically go through to the last 16 yet those who finish between ninth and 24th will have a two-legged knockout in February. In 2023, United played eight games in 26 days in February.
"I already knew it," Amorim said of United's away record. "You guys ask but I respond. I already knew it’s a big job, we have a long way to go.
"It’s really important to win away, even in the league. We know that it’s really tough to win away in our league, we are Manchester United and we have to improve on that also winning at home because we lost the last game. It’s really important to go to the next stage so we need to win tomorrow because of all of that.
"It’s really really important for us as a club and as a team in this moment. If you pass to the next stage without play off, you take two games from our schedule. It’s massive. For some teams, it’s nothing. For us, it’s really really important."
Since the quarter-final debacle at Sevilla in April 2023, United have gone six without a win on the continent, conceding 18 goals. Viktoria Plzen are unbeaten at home since March this year.
Amorim brought up an opponent's running for the second time at a pre-match European press conference. Plzen have an identical record to United in the Europa League - three draws and two wins - and are below them only on goal difference.
"We face a team that a lot of people in England don’t know the name but they are very strong," Amorim stressed. "They run a lot. We cannot play the game one against one and all the pitch like they want. We have to have possession, we have to control transitions, we have to be very good in second phases like after crosses, the next cross, we have to improve on these details, we have to improve on set pieces and we have to win it.
"So it’s really important to win the game and to play well. Not just win but play well. But tomorrow is going to be really, really tough. We are prepared for that."
Tyrell Malacia, sat alongside Amorim for the pre-match press conference will start for the third midweek running after two 45-minute outings against Bodo/Glimt and Arsenal. The 25-year-old enjoyed a much-improved performance during the goalless first half at the Emirates Stadium last week after a chastening comeback on his first United appearance in 550 days against the Norwegian side.
Malacia was Ten Hag's first United signing from Feyenoord in July 2022 and the Dutchman is the only fit senior left back with Luke Shaw sidelined again with another hamstring injury. Figures at United have noticed that Amorim is decisive with queries whereas Ten Hag could be the opposite. Malacia echoed that.
"Of course, there’s a lot of changing but what I like and what I know from this manager is that he’s very clear for all of us," Malacia said. "So that’s the most important so we know what we have to do in the game.
"It’s like training every day, so I have to improve week by week by playing games, of course, and I could already see a difference from my first game against Bodo/Glimt and against Arsenal. That’s it.
"As a team, we’re improving, trying to adapt to the playing style of the manager and I’m happy."