Ruben Amorim outlines season priorities as Europa League final apporoaches

“Again, we cannot save anything from the Premier League. But I think it’s a good thing for them as we’ll not have a lot of trainings. They will fight for the places in the final in these games. I think, against Brentford, we had some mistakes that I felt some of our players were thinking about this game [against Athletic Club]. So we have to manage that but we also have to acknowledge that we are Manchester United and we need to win games, also in the Premier League, and we have to use every game to improve, even to prepare for the final, but, especially, to prepare for the future.”

While that strategy has paid off in terms of reaching a European final, it has come at a steep cost domestically. For Amorim, Sunday’s game against West Ham presents a chance to restore some pride in the league — but with a thin margin for error, the pressure is more intense than ever.

Ruben Amorim is focusing on the Europa League final

Amorim has made it clear that he is not backing down from his tactical choices, even in the face of criticism from pundits like Roy Keane. Speaking to the press, the Manchester United manager acknowledged the backlash but stated that he would rather stay true to his convictions than compromise his principles.

Amorim admitted that he deliberately conserved energy for the Europa League final against Tottenham, believing that winning a European trophy would be the best outcome for the club this season. However, he emphasised that the remaining three Premier League fixtures will not be taken lightly.

“Yeah, we are trying to do our best but I agree. We can do better. And, again, I don’t have anything to say about the criticism because we deserve it. If we cannot accept everything in this kind of season, I think we are in the wrong business, and I have full acknowledgement of that. I agree with all the critics but, in this moment, I think it’s really clear and we have to be smart. We have to take a risk and we have to take the risk to get a lot of criticisms from everybody because the standards of Roy Keane and all of these guys are really high. But I have to make a choice. What is the best for the club not what is the best for me. I make a choice in this moment [that] I’m going to try to save all the players because it’s really important for us to win the final.”

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The immediate priority for Manchester United is clear: avoid another league defeat. Rúben Amorim must field his strongest XI against West Ham and demand a respectable finish to a dismal Premier League campaign. Winning the Europa League would be a vital boost, but it will mean little if United continue to slide domestically.

A summer overhaul is inevitable. Some players, regardless of their history at the club, no longer meet the standard required to restore United to the upper echelons of the league. The squad needs a clean sweep, with a dynamic midfielder, a commanding centre-back, and a proven striker at the top of the shopping list.

Amorim may have good intentions, but his gamble on prioritising Europe over the league will only make sense if he lifts the trophy in Bilbao and starts the next season with a revitalised squad. The fans are tired of promises. They want tangible progress, not excuses, and if United continue to falter on weekends, neither the Europa League nor any other achievement will serve as a shield.