Manchester United’s Amad and Matthijs de Ligt will not be in the starting line-up for their Europa League semi-final first leg against Athletic Bilbao. Despite returning to team training ahead of United’s away tie, they will be named as substitutes at the San Mames stadium.
Amad has been out for two-and-a-half months due to an ankle injury, while De Ligt has missed seven games with a foot issue. The Red Devils have taken a larger squad than usual as they plan to stay overnight on Thursday and train in Bilbao on Friday before their Premier League match against Brentford on Sunday.
“To start, no, but they can be on the squad for the game and the rest of the players,” said United coach Ruben Amorim.
“We have a game tomorrow and then we have to train here Friday so we need to prepare not just for this game, play this game but also prepare for the next game against Brentford. We took a lot of especially young kids to prepare for the next game.”
Academy players including Jaydan Kamason, Tyler Fredricson, Harry Amass, Sekou Kone and Chido Obi have travelled to Bilbao. This is United’s fourth Europa League semi-final in eight years, having not reached the Champions League semi-finals since 2011.
A win in the Europa League would secure Champions League football next season for the currently 14th-placed Premier League team. Amorim emphasised the importance of the only competition that offers United salvation.
Amorim has passionately defended the significance of European competition for his team, stating: “Not just the team but the fans, you guys also, everybody knows it’s really important for our season.
“We know nothing is going to save our season but this can be huge. Winning a trophy, getting in the Champions League to play European games next year could change a lot of things in our club in the summer.”
The former Sporting coach also responded to questions about lower-ranked teams like United or Tottenham potentially winning the Europa League, saying: “I think it’s the rules, it’s hard to talk about that. Maybe you can say it’s not fair because the best teams, the champions, should be in the Champions League. But you have this competition to give value to this competition, it’s like one cup in our league. If you win the cup you go to European games. It’s the rules.
“I don’t know if it’s fair or not but if there is that possibility we have to try and reach it.”
Amorim also addressed the disparity between United’s Europa League and Premier League performances, admitting confusion: “I don’t know in that department. Because we had some games that we didn’t create situations but it’s not the case in the last games.
“When we stop for national teams we had against Nottingham situations, against Wolverhampton and Arsenal at our home. We are creating the chances but we are not scoring goals and sometimes you don’t have an explanation for that to happen.
“So if you create situations, you are near to scoring goal, in the Europa League we are scoring more than in the league. I don’t have a big explanation for that.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk