Imanol Alguacil has insisted Manchester United are favourites against his side
Sociedad boss has praised Ruben Amorim, calling his an 'excellent manager'
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By SIMON PEACH, PA CHIEF FOOTBALL WRITER
Published: 14:22 EST, 5 March 2025 | Updated: 14:22 EST, 5 March 2025
Real Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil says people picking his side as favourites over Manchester United 'don't know anything about football'.
Ruben Amorim's misfiring side take on the LaLiga outfit in San Sebastian on Thursday in the first leg of a crunch Europa League round-of-16 tie.
Absentee-hit United limp into the match with just 18 players and fresh from Sunday's FA Cup exit on penalties to Fulham, which only compounds their lowly 14th place in the Premier League standings.
Bookmakers make La Real favourite to win the first fixture in Spain but boss Imanol downplayed such talk.
"If someone picks Real Sociedad as favourites, they don't know anything about football and what club we're facing," he said.
"For me, Man United are favourites to win the Europa League. We need to acknowledge who we are up against.
Real Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil has claimed Manchester United are favourites in the game against his side
La Real boss has praised Ruben Amorim's reigning and called him 'an excellent manager'
"It's true that in the Premier League they are not getting the results they want. But they are a very good team with an excellent manager."
Imanol pointed to the fact that United are the only undefeated side in the Europa League, although says there is real belief that La Real can overcome this "great rival".
"Whenever I face a big team, I think that we can win if we do certain things," he said. "If not, I wouldn't be here. However, you have to be sensible and recognise what's ahead."
La Real head into the match ninth in LaLiga, having lost 4-0 at leaders Barcelona on Sunday.
Homegrown defender Igor Zubeldia said: "We have to focus on ourselves, play our game, be at our best. If we do that we will be able to compete.
"We will analyse the rival but we also need to focus on our own game.
"The support our fans give us is incredible. You see it in every game at home. The strength they give us is fundamental and even more so in a game like tomorrow's."