Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has hinted he could sign a new defender this summer, due to doubts about the long term fitness of a star trio
13:30, 15 May 2025Updated 14:17, 15 May 2025
Ruben Amorim has endured an awful first season at Manchester United
Ruben Amorim has endured an awful first season at Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)
Ruben Amorim insists Friday night's clash with Chelsea is a Europa League final audition for his Manchester United stars.
United travel to Stamford Bridge looking to salvage a modicum of pride, following what has been a shambolic league campaign. The fallen giants are languishing in 16th place in the table following their worst campaign in Premier League history.
But United's entire season rests on next week's Europa League showdown with Tottenham in Bilbao. The winners will take the trophy and book a place in the Champions League, with a possible £100m pay day.
And Amorim has told United there are still places up for grabs in his starting XI to face Spurs.
When asked if some players still had a chance of starting the showpiece game in northern Spain on Wednesday, Amorim said: "Yes, that is clear.
Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt both have fitness issues ahead of the Europa League final
Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt both have fitness issues ahead of the Europa League final
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"We want to win and we want to perform. I know the starting XI I am thinking for Chelsea, and then I will see. Even the way we play there against Chelsea, I will see it and it will be important for the next one.
"It is going to be a massive part of this game to the next one, so we need to perform and they need to perform, that is an important thing.
"We cannot spend eight or nine days without a game before the final, that is a bad thing for the final. So we will prepare for the game."
Amorim is desperate to see United finish the league campaign on a high, and not dismiss the final two fixtures as irrelevant because of Europe. He said: "The best way is to face the game like we should face the game, it is to win the game.
"We need to perform, to win points in the Premier League. That is the feeling. We talked about this after the West Ham game. We need to improve in the way we face competitions, and stay focused in every moment of the game.
"These details matter. The only way I know how to prepare a final is, in the normal game for our league, we must play the same way as a final.
"The players have to understand that if you play or don't play against Chelsea, it means nothing in terms of the final. That is important.
"I am just preparing the game of Chelsea. That is my focus. We want to win and we want to perform."
With doubts over the long term fitness of Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt, Amorim has hinted he could look to sign a new centre back this summer.
He added: "I was thinking about next year and the squad, if we need another guy, if it is a long injury.
"That is my concern. It is not just about the final. Of course I want every player fit. But Leny Yoro, with his foot, he had that problem.
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"I was so concerned about the next season, the next squad, the way we build up the squad. That was my biggest concern."