Ruben Amorim has spoken out on two Manchester United players ahead of the Red Devils’ encounter with Premier League side Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The Red Devils were in Spain this week and Manchester United played out a 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad in the first leg of their last-16 Europa League tie.
Joshua Zirkzee opened the scoring for United in the second half, but Mikel Oyarzabal found the all-important equaliser for Real Sociedad from the spot-kick.
The Europa League is Ruben Amorim’s last chance of lifting major silverware as United manager this season after the Red Devils were knocked out of the FA Cup by Fulham.
UEFA’s second-tier club tournament is also United’s best hope of securing Champions League football for next season after their run of form in the league.
United are currently 14th in the Premier League table and Amorim’s men are 16 points clear of the relegation zone and 14 points adrift from the top four.
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Photo by Ion Alcoba Beitia/Getty Images
Photo by Ion Alcoba Beitia/Getty Images
What Ruben Amorim said about two Man Utd stars for Arsenal match
Ruben Amorim was without Manchester United duo Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte for Thursday’s 1-1 draw in the Europa League at the Reale Arena.
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Both Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte were sidelined for the Europa League clash due to injuries and Amorim was forced to make changes against Real Sociedad.
Noussair Mazraoui came into the three-man backline in the absence of Maguire and Casemiro was deployed in midfield with Bruno Fernandes amid Ugarte’s absence.
Amorim admitted that he does not know at the moment whether or not Maguire and Ugarte will be available for the Arsenal match at Old Trafford on the weekend.
“I don’t know, I don’t know,” he said at his pre-match press conference, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“We need to survive Sunday. The team was so tired in the last 20 minutes.
“We have to prepare for Sunday and then think about this important game in our season on Thursday [the second leg against Real Sociedad] but, in this moment, I don’t know.”
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Ruben Amorim asked about Mikel Arteta comparison
Amorim’s early struggles at United have been compared with Mikel Arteta’s initial difficulties at Arsenal, but the former Sporting CP boss dismissed the comparisons.
“I don’t feel that,” he said.
“Again, I will not have the time that Arteta has. I feel that. It’s a different club, so we just need to survive the players on Sunday and me during these games. I think it’s a different club.
“I think in that aspect, the way Arteta dealt with that, is an inspiration for everybody. I will not have the time like Arteta had.”
United and Arsenal’s Premier League showdown will kick off at 4:30pm UK time on Sunday at Old Trafford.