Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has admitted that winning the Europa League would not be enough to salvage the club’s disappointing season.
As United prepare to face Real Sociedad in the last-16 first leg at the Reale Arena, Amorim remains realistic about the team’s struggles.
The Europa League is United’s last opportunity to achieve silverware this season after their FA Cup exit at the hands of Fulham, losing 4-3 on penalties.
Their domestic form has been equally dismal, with the club currently languishing in 14th place in the Premier League. Any hopes of qualifying for Europe via league position are fading fast.
Winning the Europa League, however, would provide a direct route back into the Champions League. It would also mark United’s first European triumph since their 2017 Europa League success.
Despite this, Amorim has been clear that lifting the trophy would not erase the damage of an otherwise disastrous campaign.
“It’s just the pressure of winning. In this club, everything is so important. Just the pressure of winning is always the same. Not just winning, but also the performance. I think we have, at this moment, a lot of pressure on us,” Amorim told TNT Sports.
“People look at this competition as the only competition that can save our season. I don’t see it like that. Nothing can save our season.
“In this club, you have to perform in every competition. I understand that it’s really important that we want to win and go to the next stage. The season has been really tough in our position in the league. That’s what I mean.
“I don’t look at things to save something. I just want to be better as a coach and for my team to perform better.”
