Amorim Unsure of Lineup for Upcoming Europa League Final
Manchester United still have to play Chelsea before the Europa League final, and head coach Ruben Amorim says spots in his starting eleven are still up for grabs. The big final in Bilbao next Thursday against Tottenham is a golden chance for United to end a tough season with something to show for it—silverware and a Champions League spot. But with the team currently sitting 16th in the Premier League, things haven’t been great. They head to Stamford Bridge on Friday looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2-0 home loss to West Ham.
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Focus on Chelsea, but Eyes on the Bigger Picture
Amorim made it clear that the team’s focus right now is solely on getting a result against Chelsea. “We need to perform, we need points,” he said. “That’s what we talked about after the West Ham game.” He added that the best way to prepare for the Europa League final isn’t to rest—it’s to compete. “We can recover after Chelsea. Playing is better than sitting out for eight or nine days. That would hurt us going into the final.”
Final Lineup Still Not Set in Stone
Although Amorim has an idea of the starting lineup for Friday’s match, he’s keeping an open mind when it comes to picking his team for the final. “Just because you’re not starting against Chelsea doesn’t mean you’re ruled out for the final,” he explained. He also hinted that Friday’s lineup could be stronger than those fielded in earlier Europa League build-up games, showing how important momentum is right now.
Injuries Could Still Shake Things Up
United will be without several key defenders at Chelsea—Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Ayden Heaven, and Diogo Dalot are all being rested as they work to recover in time for the final. Amorim doesn’t want to take any risks. “If there’s any danger of making an injury worse and missing the final, the player won’t feature,” he said.
Yoro Injury Scare Sparks Concern
Amorim admitted he was seriously worried when Yoro appeared to aggravate his old foot injury. “I was already thinking about next season and if we’d need to find another defender,” he said. But the young centre-back seems to be recovering well, which is a huge relief ahead of the club’s biggest game of the season.
Final Prep Mode: All Eyes on Thursday
With Chelsea up next and the final looming, Amorim wants to strike the right balance. While winning at Stamford Bridge is important, he’s also keeping the bigger goal in mind. “We’ll be ready for the final no matter what,” he said confidently.
