Ruben Amorim has stated that missing out on UEFA Champions League would be an advantage for Manchester United next season.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim believes missing out on the Champions League next season could be a blessing in disguise for his squad.
Speaking at the launch of United’s post-season tour in Malaysia on Tuesday, Amorim addressed the team’s 15th-place finish in the Premier League—their worst-ever in the competition—and their failure to qualify for the Champions League via the Europa League, following a 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the final.
This marks only the second time in the Premier League era that United will not feature in European competition. However, Amorim sees an opportunity in the lighter schedule.
“I have to say that for us not to be in the Champions League could be an advantage to perform well, to perform better, to prepare better [for] the games,” he said.
“To build that core that we need for the future so I think it’s a good thing for us to take advantage not to have European games.”
Amorim also took the opportunity to back captain Bruno Fernandes, whose future at Old Trafford has been uncertain since the Europa League final defeat.
“We had some difficult moments [this season],” Amorim noted. “In [those] difficult moments you can see that Bruno is the guy that takes that responsibility. It should be, because he’s the captain, he has that experience so he’s really important for us and really important for what we want to build with this team.”
As Manchester United look to rebuild after a challenging season, Amorim’s pragmatic approach and support for his captain signal a focus on long-term growth over immediate European success.
Follow us @Sportscliffs on Twitter and Instagram and also like our facebook page
