Ruben Amorim has poured water on potential Europa League success this week and maintains winning such competitions should not be a big deal for Manchester United
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Ruben Amorim has his sights higher than Europa League glory
Ruben Amorim has his sights higher than Europa League glory
(Image: PA)
Ruben Amorim has claimed Manchester United winning the Europa League "is not a big thing" as he calmed the excitement around possibly lifting the trophy in Bilbao on Wednesday night.
The Red Devils are in Europe's secondary competition, which they only qualified for by winning last year's FA Cup, but have gone unbeaten en route to the final. They will now face Tottenham as they look to win a third trophy in as many seasons.
Amorim has presided over a horrendous run of form in the Premier League, leaving the Manchester outfit in 16th. They've been able to enjoy some positive results in Europe and one more stellar performance will see them land some silverware.
The United boss though insists winning the Europa League will be nothing to shout about and maintained a club of their size should be looking to land the top flight and compete in the Champions League which, by his own admission, they're miles off.
He told CBS Sports : "If you win the Europa League in Manchester United, I'm sorry, it is not a big thing. You need to go for Premier League and the Champions League - and we are so far away. That is my feeling. Of course it would be a title, a European title, but it is not enough."
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Amorim's feeling is not uncommon in Manchester with Harry Maguire, who scored the winner to see off Lyon in the quarter-finals, admitting that a trophy would not make up for the dire season they've had, which has seen them lose 18 times in the league.
He said: "It wouldn't save the season because I think it's been disappointing. There's been too many games that we've lost, far too inconsistent. It's been a difficult season. It's been a disappointing season but of course football is about memories, it's about creating memories, it's about winning trophies and we have a great opportunity to win a trophy."
Man Utd have gone unbeaten in their 14 Europa League games this year
Man Utd have gone unbeaten in their 14 Europa League games this year
United are in the midst of their worst run of form all year - without a win in their last seven league games. Victory on Wednesday would see the Red Devils land a spot in the Champions League, but Amorim insists his team are not ready to compete a Europe's top table and in England.
He said: "We are not ready to play in the Premier League, be competitive, and to be in the Champions League. We know that, but we need to win, and we need to fight to win this competition [Europa League], to give something to our fans, and to go to the Champions League. Then we will have time to prepare the team to cope with those two competitions. So, it is a dilemma, but we want to win, of course."
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