As Manchester United gear up for their Europa League semifinal first leg clash against Athletic Club on Thursday, manager Ruben Amorim has made it clear that even lifting the trophy won’t be enough to redeem what has been a dismal campaign.
The semifinal, which could pave the way to a final in Bilbao next month, presents a crucial opportunity for United to salvage something from a season marred by underperformance.
Amorim, however, is under no illusion that a European title alone will erase the damage already done.
“We know nothing is going to save our season but this can be huge,” Amorim stated. “Winning a trophy, getting in the Champions League to play European games next year could change a lot of things in our club in the summer.”
Victory in the Europa League would offer a direct route to next season’s UEFA Champions League, something United are unlikely to secure via their Premier League position, with the club heading toward their worst league finish ever.
While the financial benefits of Champions League football would provide Amorim more leverage in the transfer market, the Portuguese coach emphasized that deeper issues within the club won’t be solved with silverware alone.
“We need to change a lot of things and we need to be consistent,” he said. “Europa League will not change anything in our problems. It’s going to give us Champions League next year, more money to spend, but the problems are still there.”
Amorim insists that structural change and long-term planning, particularly in recruitment and youth development, are essential for United to truly return to the top of European football.
“We have to change the minds of our fans with consistency, good decisions, good recruitment, good academy,” he added. “This is what we need to change to take our club back to the top. This is more of a shortcut to go to the European games. Nothing more. The problems we need to solve in a different way with more time and we’re really clear on that.”
A key concern for Amorim is United’s lack of attacking threat. The team ranks among the lowest-scoring sides in the league, with only Everton, Ipswich, Leicester, and Southampton having fewer goals.
Striker Rasmus Højlund has netted just twice in 2025, with his latest coming in the 1-1 draw against Bournemouth last weekend.
With Athletic Club boasting the best defensive record in La Liga and the top home defensive stats in any of Europe’s big five leagues—Amorim knows his side faces a daunting challenge.
“They are the best defence in Spain in the league,” he acknowledged. The manager is hopeful of having both Amad Diallo and Matthijs de Ligt on the bench, as the duo has recently returned to training after injury layoffs.
“We are not scoring too many goals, so it’s going to be a tough match for us,” he admitted. “We know that in the beginning of the game, 20 or 30 minutes especially, they are really strong, really intense. They use the crowd to take the game to a different level. We are prepared for that, so we are going to face a very strong team.”
Despite the potential reward, Amorim remains realistic. For Manchester United, Thursday’s clash may offer a lifeline—but not a cure.
