Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim faces significant defensive selection challenges as his team prepares for next Wednesday’s crucial Europa League final against Tottenham in Bilbao.
Several key defenders are racing against time to be fit for the showpiece event, with Leny Yoro the latest casualty after sustaining a foot injury during Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to West Ham. The young French center-back joins fellow defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Ayden Heaven on the injury list, while right-back Diogo Dalot is also battling to recover from a calf problem.
“I don’t know if they are going to be available,” Amorim admitted during his press conference. “We are going to try to push because it’s the final matches and this is a final. All the players want to play that really bad, so I don’t know.”
The Portuguese coach confirmed that the injured defenders will miss Friday’s Premier League match against Chelsea but remained cautiously optimistic about their chances for the final. “I think they will not go to Chelsea, but we will have a possibility to have some of them in the final.”
Dalot, who has made 51 appearances across all competitions this season, is particularly determined to feature in Spain. “Dalot is trying really bad,” Amorim noted, while expressing caution about rushing players back. “I don’t want to risk Dalot because when you start getting one injury, second injury [follows] and then it’s a big thing.”
The final represents United’s last opportunity to salvage something from a disappointing domestic campaign. Victory would not only secure silverware but also guarantee Champions League qualification for next season, a crucial financial and sporting lifeline for the club.
Jonny Evans and academy product Toby Collyer participated in training and could provide defensive options if the first-choice players fail to recover in time. Meanwhile, Lisandro Martinez and Joshua Zirkzee have already been ruled out of contention for the final.
The match against Tottenham, who have also underperformed in the Premier League this season, has taken on enormous significance for both clubs as they seek European qualification through cup success.
