Manchester United will take on Tottenham in next Wednesday’s Europa League final in Bilbao after both sides have endured awful Premier League campaigns
Ruben Amorim will not be sacked by Manchester United even if they lose the Europa League Final.
United bosses believe it would be madness to make Amorim pay the price for a disastrous Premier League campaign that will see the Red Devils finish in their lowest position for 50 years.
They are ready to give the 40-year-old next season to make his methods work – but there is some disappointment inside the Old Trafford boardroom over the Portuguese’s honest admission that the job may be too big for him.
Especially when United have the chance to rescue their season by beating Tottenham in Bilbao on Wednesday night to claim a place in the Champions League.
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The club’s recruitment team has drawn up two lists of transfer targets – one that will be pursued if Amorim’s team hit a £100million jackpot by beating a side that has performed even worse than they have this season. The other will be less expansive if there is no European football next season.
Both have been designed to mould a squad that will be able to deliver the tactical plan that has brought 13 defeats in 26 Premier League games since he succeeded Erik ten Hag in November.
But Amorim’s brutal assessment that he might be the worst manager in the club’s history has led to concerns that he may walk out at the end of the season.
He has since reeled back on the stance that he might pay the price for failing to secure results with a squad that isn’t fit for purpose.
United will still seek assurances that the former Sporting Lisbon coach is not contemplating walking out before they make any summer moves in the transfer market. Outspoken owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is said to be impressed with his manager’s candour.
Ratcliffe has been hugely critical of the infrastructure he discovered when he spent £1.27billion for a stake in the club 14 months ago and has incurred the wrath of the Glazer family who remain as co-owners.
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