Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim provided an early fitness report ahead of the crucial Europa League quarter-final clash against Lyon. The Red Devils will face the French club in the first leg away at the Groupama Stadium on Thursday night.
United have suffered immensely in the Premier League this season, currently in the 13th position, way beneath their immense stature. However, the Europa League remains their potential salvation to qualify for next season’s Champions League under the new Portuguese boss.
Amorim succeeded Erik ten Hag, who failed to rejuvenate the club after last season’s mess despite spending massive transfer funds. Under Amorim’s new tactics, the players he inherited from Ten Hag have struggled to adjust and produce an immediate turnaround.
Nevertheless, the Europa League remains an important source for their salvation before Amorim uses the summer’s transfer market for rectification. The former Sporting CP boss has also faced obstacles due to the recurring injury crisis that the club has faced.
Speaking with BBC Radio 5 Live (via manutd.com), Amorim highlighted that he has managed Harry Maguire’s game time according to the United medical department’s assessment of his fitness as the Lyon game draws near. He said:
“Harry Maguire just had 60 minutes allowed from the medical department to play, so he’s fit and ready to go. So we need to be careful on this. No, it’s not an injury, it’s just [that] we had a time that we could use Harry without any danger. We cannot lose any more players, we have to try to divide the moments between the players. We have a really important game on Thursday.”
Meanwhile, Amorim provided the fitness report of other United players to MUTV, including Matthias De Ligt before the Manchester City game and the fitness report of Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo after the game.
On the fitness of De Ligt, he said:
“Matta [De Ligt], he has an injury. Let’s see how long it is going to take.”
On Mainoo and Mount’s current status, Amorim said:
“We’ll see. Mason Mount is ready to do whatever we want. Of course, we have to look at the minutes. Kobbie Mainoo is training with us, we want to be careful, again, with our players, but maybe he’s going to be in our squad.”
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United need their first-team regulars fully fit and ready to produce performances in each of the remaining Europa League games. The qualification for the next season’s Champions League will not only add financial benefits but also give Amorim a chance to attract top players next summer.