- United’s season rests on the final clash against Spurs in Bilbao on Wednesday
- Amorim, however, has suggested the club should be aiming for higher accolades
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Winning the Europa League would not ‘be a big thing’, Ruben Amorim has claimed ahead of his side’s crunch final against Tottenham.
United’s season rests on Wednesday night’s game in Bilbao, with the Red Devils enduring a disaster of a domestic season under Amorim but reaching the final of Europe’s second-tier competition.
Should they win, though, they will qualify for the Champions League next season, making the summer transfer window easier from a recruitment point of view in allowing the club to play in the competition next term.
Amorim has repeatedly suggested that winning the Europa League will not save United’s season, with the Portuguese stating there are a lot of ‘problems’ to fix when the season is over.
Ahead of the final, the United boss has doubled down on his claims, with the game seemingly meaning less to United than it does to Tottenham.
Speaking in Bilbao ahead of the game, Amorim revealed he has his sights set on bigger targets for his side, with Wednesday’s final merely a stepping stone.
Ruben Amorim has claimed that Manchester United winning the Europa League would not be ‘a big thing’
United’s season rests on Wednesday night’s clash with Tottenham in Bilbao after a dismal domestic campaign
Amorim said his side should be challenging for Premier League and Champions League titles
‘You can see the envirinment is completely different,’ Amorim told CBS Sports inside the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao. ‘Even in our context.
‘The week of the preparation for the final, even the matches before the final with Athletic Bilbao, with Lyon, the environment of the club is completely different.
‘When I say that it is not the most important thing for our club, I really mean it. If you win the Europa League at Manchester United, I’m really sorry, it’s not a big thing. You need to go for the Premier League and the Champions League, and we are so far away.
‘That is my feeling of course. It is winning a European title, but it is not enough – and I have that feeling all of the time.’
Former United defender Gary Neville, though, was of a differing opinion. Speaking to The Athletic, Neville said: ‘That game is making my stomach churn with its level of importance, to both clubs.
‘Not just from a silverware perspective, not just from a manager’s perspective, but also from a finance perspective – what it gives both clubs in terms of attracting players and the money that it will put into the clubs. It’s making me a little bit sick.’
Ahead of the match, United boss Amorim was handed a triple boost as their first-team stars made a return to first-team training on Tuesday.
Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro and Diogo Dalot were all pictured in the session having been major fitness doubts for the final.
