Ruben Amorim is on course to lead Manchester United to their worst ever Premier League finish and has stressed the need for reinforcements during the summer transfer window
Manchester United must improve at every position, according to Ruben Amorim. The head coach described his squad as United's worst ever after a January defeat to Brighton, and the club are on course for their worst ever finish in the Premier League era.
Amorim was asked about replacing goalkeeper Andre Onana ahead of Thursday's Europa League quarterfinal second leg against Lyon. However, he argued the team's shortcomings run far deeper.
"We need to improve every position on the field; goalkeeper is the same," the head coach told reporters. "If our team scores more goals and our strikers are better, we will defend better.
"Sometimes you have a season where you are underperforming. That assessment will be made for any position on the team." With six games remaining, United is 14th in the table. Even if they win all six, they will fall short of their lowest Premier League point return of 58 from the 2021-22 season. Amorim confirmed that Onana would start in goal again on Thursday. After spilling the ball at Lyon's Rayan Cherki's feet for a late equalizer, the keeper was singled out for criticism, and he missed Sunday's Premier League match against Newcastle United away from home. "I think as a former coach and a player, I try to do things that can help a player in this situation," Amorim said. "We talk about managing players physically, but we also have to manage them mentally. This week, my thinking was to put [Andre] Onana to play."
United will be without Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee, among others, for Lyon's visit to Old Trafford on Thursday night. De Ligt is expected back in a matter of weeks, having not played since April 1, but his fellow Dutch international Zirkzee won't feature again this term.
"Joshua is out for the season," Amorim confirmed. "He is not going to play anymore this season. We must prepare him for next season. It is hard for any player to stop, but it's football. He has to be ready to recover."
Leny Yoro also scored for United in the first leg in France. Zirkzee scored for United. However, goals from Thiago Almada and Cherki leave the game delicately poised.
If United make it through, they will face Athletic Club or Rangers in the semi-finals. Their first leg in Glasgow ended goalless, with Rangers holding on despite a first-half red card for Robin Propper.
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"Joshua is out for the season," Amorim confirmed. "He is not going to play anymore this season. We must prepare him for next season. It is hard for any player to stop, but it's football. He has to be ready to recover."
If United make it through, they will face Athletic Club or Rangers in the semi-finals. Their first leg in Glasgow ended goalless, with Rangers holding on despite a first-half red card for Robin Propper.
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