Ruben Amorim has said Manchester United’s players cannot have any complaints about **Sir Jim Ratcliffe**’s criticism and put the onus on them to prove him wrong, starting with sealing Europa League progress tonight.
Languishing in 14th place in the Premier League and out of both cup competitions, United have to win the last-16 tie against Real Sociedad, which is 1-1 after last week’s first leg in Spain, to stand any chance of silverware this season.
The Europa League also offers United’s only realistic route to European football next term and the poor season has led to Ratcliffe this week critiquing that some players are “not good enough” and “probably overpaid”.
The United co-owner made a rather withering reference to a host of players Ineos had “inherited” at Old Trafford, including Casemiro, Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana along with Antony and Jadon Sancho, who are both out on loan.
When asked about Ratcliffe’s comments, Amorim said it is down to him and his players to demonstrate their worth.
“I think if we are being honest in this moment everybody — me, all the players — are underperforming this season so we can always change that,” the United head coach said. “So, I include myself in that part of underperforming.
Getty: Alex Livesey
Getty: Alex Livesey
*“You are talking about players like Casemiro, for example, that won everything, and we know that these kind of players can play so much better, so that is the focus. He was honest in that, so the focus is to change his mind and to change all the people’s minds.*”
Amorim added that there had been no complaints from players about Ratcliffe’s assessment during an interview round this week and instead expects them to elicit a positive response.
“*I think it is the right way to do it,” he said. “If you are a top player and you play in this football club and even me — a lot of people say I am not good enough for the club and my feeling is you can change that with results. In training I feel they want that really bad, especially tomorrow.*”
'I've always felt the club's support'
Although Manuel Ugarte is set to return from injury, United could still be without 11 players for the second leg against La Real, with Leny Yoro the latest to be sidelined.
Amorim’s team are unbeaten in the competition this season and will look to continue that run in order to book a place in the quarter-finals. “*In that context it’s also important to give us more energy to continue the season,*” Amorim said.
Getty: Ash Donelon
Getty: Ash Donelon
“*We know that it’s not going to change a lot the idea for the next season, but it gives us more energy to finish the season in the in a different way. Tomorrow, again, is going to be really important game for us.*”
Failure to advance past the Spanish side would not mean Amorim loses the backing of the club’s board, including Ratcliffe, who has spoken highly of the head coach.
The 40-year-old insisted he felt the support privately and that it was nice to be publicly backed.
“It’s really good since day one,” Amorim said of his relationship with Ratcliffe. “I think we are really blunt and honest with each other. It’s a little bit our characters, we are quite similar in that. I always felt the support of the board and especially from Sir Jim.
*“I cannot tell you the conversations, but they are simple conversations, clear conversations and honest conversations.*”