Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim acknowledges the “risk” of rotating his squad for Sunday’s Premier League match against Brentford as he prioritizes the club’s Europa League campaign.
Following Thursday’s commanding 3-0 semi-final first leg victory at Athletic Bilbao, United are well-positioned to reach the final on May 21, where they would face either Tottenham or Bodo/Glimt. With the Europa League offering both silverware and crucial Champions League qualification, Amorim is focused on protecting key players ahead of the second leg.
“We know that we have always a responsibility but in this moment we have to take a risk,” Amorim explained. “There are some positions that we don’t have more players. For example, Nous Mazraoui cannot play. He is in the limit to get an injury.”
United’s approach reflects their current reality—languishing in 14th place with just 39 points, their worst Premier League campaign ever. The manager was candid about his priorities: “We have always a responsibility of the result. But in this moment we have to be clear: our focus is more on saving players and trying to be competitive.”
The expanded 26-man squad that traveled to Spain included several academy prospects, with teenagers Chido Obi, Sekou Kone, Bendito Mantato, and Jaydan Kamason all making the trip alongside 20-year-old Tyler Fredricson.
One bright spot has been the resurgence of Casemiro, who scored in Thursday’s victory. “He improved a lot also and you can see not the way he plays, but the way he runs,” Amorim noted. “He was not playing, even Toby sometimes was playing in front of him and now it’s hard to take Casemiro out of the team.”
With injuries to Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez, and Joshua Zirkzee, plus concerns over recently returned Amad Diallo and Matthijs de Ligt, United’s squad management will be crucial as they balance domestic obligations with European ambitions.
