Marc Cucurella's 71st-minute goal was enough for Chelsea to inflict an 18th Premier League defeat on Man United.
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United lost for the 18th time in the league this season
United lost for the 18th time in the league this season
Ruben Amorim insists it is a "good sign" that some Manchester United players were confrontational after Chelsea's winning goal.
United captain Bruno Fernandes and defender Harry Maguire rounded on Alejandro Garnacho after he was bypassed by Reece James, who crossed for Marc Cucurella to nod in the only goal in the 71st minute.
Cucurella pounced less than two minutes after Casemiro and Mason Mount came off in United's first round of substitutions. Garnacho, who was on the pitch for less than two minutes when Chelsea scored, started on the bench for the second match running for the first time since January, having lined up in his 14th successive match last week.
"Casemiro and Mason Mount just came off and also Luke Shaw, to protect them for the final, the thinking was the final because again we need to make a choice," Amorim said. "Them fighting for when we suffer a goal is a good thing, so good signs."
The result marked United's 18th league defeat of the season, their second-most in a league campaign since they were relegated in 1973-74.
United host Aston Villa in their final league match of the campaign next weekend and Unai Emery's side will likely have to win to have any chance of qualifying for the Champions League.
Tottenham's loss at Villa on Friday night means United remain marooned in 16th, with their Europa League final opponents below them. Spurs are at home to Brighton on the final day.
"We have full knowledge of that," Amorim said of United's domestic form. "We already talk about that, nothing is going to change this season. The best way is to prepare for a final, try to win a trophy this season and prepare for the next one.
"So we know that we are in a season struggling a lot but we cannot do nothing, that is in the past. We need to look for the present, the present is prepare for the final and prepare for next season."
Amorim confirmed United had suffered no fresh injuries in the Chelsea loss five days before they face Tottenham in Bilbao. Amorim could conceivably pick an unchanged team against Tottenham, with Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt major doubts for the showpiece.
The United head coach declined to say whether he had now settled on his side against Spurs. "Of course, we take information," Amorim acknowledged. "But then we have to see it’s a different opponent, a different context, sometimes it’s different to start the game or to come off from the bench.
"So, I took some information but it’s not clear yet what kind of XI I will start in the final."
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