Ruben Amorim has issued a rallying call to his Manchester United players, declaring that their match against Chelsea on Friday night is their chance to secure their starting spots for next week's Europa League final. Currently languishing 16th place in the Premier League table with 17 losses, United's hopes for the season now rest on the upcoming final against fellow strugglers Tottenham in Bilbao.
The victors will not only lift the trophy but also secure a spot in next season's Champions League, which could generate up to £100million in revenue. With so much at stake, Amorim has made it clear that there are still positions up for grabs in his final line-up. When asked if some players could still make it into his starting eleven against Spurs, Amorim confirmed: "Yes, that is clear. We want to win at Chelsea and we want to perform.
"I know the starting eleven I am thinking of for Chelsea and then I will see. Even the way we play there against Chelsea, I will see it and it will be important for the next game. It's going to be a massive part of this game to go to the next one, so we need to perform and they need to perform - that's an important thing.
"We cannot spend eight or nine days without a game before the final. That is a bad thing for the final. So we will prepare for the game."
Amorim is eager for United to end their dismal league campaign on a positive note and not write off their chances just yet. The United manager emphasised the importance of maintaining focus and performance in the final two fixtures, regardless of the looming final.
He stated: "The best way is to face the game like we should face the game – that is to win the game. We need to perform, to win points in the Premier League. That's the feeling.
"We talked about this after the West Ham game. We need to improve in the way we face competitions and stay focused in every moment of the game. These details matter. The only way I know how to prepare for a final is that in the normal game for our league, we must play the same way as we would do in a final.
"The players have to understand that if you play or don't play against Chelsea, it means nothing in terms of the final. That's important. I'm just preparing for the game at Chelsea. That's my focus. We want to win and we want to perform."
With concerns over the long-term fitness of Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt, Amorim has hinted at the possibility of signing a new centre-back this summer.
Amorim said: "I was thinking about next year and the squad, if we need another guy, if it's a long injury. That's my concern. It's not just about the final. Of course I want every player to be fit.
"But Leny Yoro had that problem with his foot. I was so concerned about the next season, the next squad, the way we build up the squad. That was my biggest concern."