Ruben Amorim insists Manchester United need to improve in every position. 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.
Ahead of Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon, Amorim was asked about replacing goalkeeper Andre Onana. 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. We are going to make that evaluation for any position in the squad.”
United sit 14th in the table with six games remaining, Even if they win all six of those games, they will fall short of their lowest Premier League points return of 58, achieved during the 2021-22 season.
Amorim confirmed Onana will return in goal for Thursday’s second leg. The keeper was singled out for blame after spilling the ball at the feet of Lyon’s Rayan Cherki for a late equaliser, and sat out Sunday’s Premier League match away at Newcastle United.
“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.”
Zirkzee was one of United’s scorers in the first leg in France, with Leny Yoro also on target. 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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