Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim knows the only way he and his Manchester United players can change negative views of them is by winning games – starting on Thursday night.
United must overcome Real Sociedad in the Europa League at Old Trafford to keep their campaign alive, as well as their hopes of European football next season.
With United down in 14th place in the Premier League and having exited both domestic cups, the Europa League is their last shot at glory this season, with the last 16 tie evenly poised at 1-1.
Against that backdrop, Amorim underlined the importance of winning to keep United's season going and prove co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wrong. He claimed some of United's squad are “overpaid and not good enough”, with Amorim determined to change that harsh perception through results.
“If you're a top player playing in this club, even me - a lot of people say I am not good enough for the club - my feeling is that you can change that with results,” said Amorim.
“In training, I feel that they want this really bad. This game is also important to give us more energy to continue the season.
“It’s not going to change a lot in terms of the ideas for the next season, but it will give us more energy to finish the season in a different way. So it’s going to be a really important game for us.”
On his relationship with Ratcliffe, Amorim said: “It's really good, since day one. I think we're really blunt and honest with each other. It’s a little bit our characters, we are quite similar in that sense.
“I always felt the support of the board, especially from Sir Jim. I cannot tell you the conversations, but they are simple conversations, clear conversations and honest conversations.”
Ratcliffe hailed Amorim as an “outstanding young manager”, while chief executive Omar Berrada said he would like to see the 40-year-old lead United out in their new £2billion stadium in five years.
On the support from the United hierarchy, Amorim said: “I already knew that, from all these conversations I already had in the past with them. After matches, they went to the dressing-room to talk to me and explain this, but to say it publicly is really good for the coach.
“But I continue to say the same thing - we need results and we need to improve the team. But from day one, I felt the support from everybody here.”
Speaking about United's bold new stadium plan, Amorim said: “It’s an amazing stadium, like it should be. But it’s in the future, five years from now. We have to focus on the present and I’m really excited to win things in Old Trafford, that’s our focus.”
United have Manuel Ugarte back for tonight's decisive tie, but Amorim is still without nine players, including Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martinez, Amad, Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount.
Although Mount returned to training yesterday, he has not played since December and is not yet ready to return to the match-day squad.
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