There’s no fairytale ending to a wretched season for Manchester United after the loss in the Europa League final but Ruben Amorim got what he wanted.
For Man Utd fans, the performance in the final summed up the season, with there being a hint of cruel irony that a Premier League side was the opponent.
Ruben Amorim’s men huffed and puffed, as they do, to no avail, as is usually the case, and the Spurs goalkeeper had to barely make any saves to see out the win.
The 1-0 loss to Spurs means the fans effectively wasted their trip by believing in a team that doesn’t deserve it anymore, but Amorim got what he wanted.
Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images
Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images
Ruben Amorim’s outcome from Europa League
Amorim’s results might not reflect it, and certainly not after the final defeat, but his words have been extremely ambitious, for better or for worse.
He’s even said that winning the Europa League is not enough for Man Utd, something they didn’t even do, which is why it looks even worse in hindsight.
However, the most jarring thing he said was in the lead-up to the final, a complete departure from his usually ambitious plans.
He said before the game that maybe it would be better if they weren’t in the Champions League next season because it would give them more time to prepare and train during the week.
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Henry Winter criticised Amorim for those comments at the time but the Man Utd manager repeated that sentiment after losing the final.
He said: “We have to use the other side. If we have more time, to think, to work during the week and to be better in the Premier League. That will be our focus.”
Amorim needs to balance honesty with tranquility
It is not the first time that Amorim’s honesty, regularly and deservedly appreciated, has backfired, and that too deservedly.
Regardless of what one might say, those kinds of comments play on the minds of the players, who were effectively given an out by the manager before the game.
For someone who is always ambitious and sets the highest standards, to accept that not being in the UCL would be better next season is a shame.
Furthermore, asking the fans to look to the other side and entice them with the prospect of “more training” is hardly the ideal way to analyse a final defeat.
Amorim has put all his eggs on one pre-season and the start of the next campaign because the credit is well and truly running out.
If this season’s form continues into the next season, no amount of honesty or training will save him.