Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim may be focusing on the long-term vision for the club, but the immediate challenges faced by the Red Devils also demand urgent attention. Following their recent FA Cup exit at the hands of Fulham, the Europa League remains United's sole chance for silverware and a crucial objective this season. Failure to triumph in the Europa League and clinch an automatic Champions League spot could result in a staggering revenue loss up to £100million for the club. A Champions League berth is estimated to be worth about £60m, while progressing to the last 16 could add another £20m in bonuses and prize money.
Additionally, European home games could potentially bring in £20m from ticket sales. Furthermore, the club's sponsorship agreement with Adidas includes a costly £10m penalty for each season spent outside the Champions League. With Sir Jim Ratcliffe implementing severe budget reductions, including 250 job cuts and possibly 200 more, the stark reality emerges: United, currently sitting at an alarming 14th in the Premier League, can ill afford to miss out on winning the Europa League. Consequently, Thursday's last-16 first-leg match against Real Sociedad carries immense weight for both Amorim and the club.
"I think it's not the crucial thing for the future of the club, that's my view," Amorim remarked about the significance of the upcoming game. We have to think of the club as a long project, not just some things at this moment, and that if we win the Europa League we'll be in an amazing position in the next few years, because the problems will continue here, even with the Champions League. So that's what I want to say.
"I know you make accounts [judgments] of my season, so I'm just trying to show that I don't care and I'm really confident on the big goal of this club. I'm trying to show the big picture to our supporters.
"I understand that it [the Europa League] could be a massive difference in our season, especially because we're out of the other cups and in a bad position in the league, that it will change a lot of things - even the way they see the coach.
"So I know that's a massive pressure. But there are more important things than winning cups at this moment - that is my feeling. But I understand that winning the Europa League can change things."
Plagued by injuries, Amorim can't count on a staggering 10 sidelined players: Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton, Jonny Evans, Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Manuel Ugarte, and Amad. This is compounded by Chido Obi being ineligible to play.
Leaving 17-year-old striker Chido Obi out of their Europa League squad is increasingly looking like a substantial error, particularly when Rasmus Hojlund hasn't scored in 18 matches and Joshua Zirkzee has netted only once in his last 16 games.
Manchester United took advantage of the opportunity to bolster their Europa League squad last month, bringing in January acquisitions Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven, along with Jack Fletcher - the progeny of first-team coach Darren.
However, Jack Fletcher wasn't included in the 18-man contingent heading to Spain, resulting in United having only seven substitutes for tonight's match - two less than the full complement available.
Regarding Obi's exclusion from the Europa League roster, Amorim said: "In that moment, Rasmus and Josh were playing in the same position, so we try to manage all of the things, even the expectations on the kids, so the context was completely different and we choose different players."
This story originally appeared on theMirror