Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim claimed that the Europa League is “so much harder” than the Champions League for a key reason.
WHAT HAPPENED?
His comments came after United’s 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad in the Europa League, leaving his squad with just three days to recover before facing Arsenal in the Premier League. In contrast, Arsenal, who demolished PSV 7-1 in their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday, have had two additional days to prepare for the crucial domestic fixture.
WHAT AMORIM SAID
Amorim recognized the toll of a demanding fixture schedule, admitting that his players battled fatigue in the final stages of their match against Real Sociedad.
“We need to survive Sunday. The team was so tired in the last 20 minutes,” said Amorim.
One of the biggest hurdles for United this season has been squad depth. Amorim acknowledged that his frequent squad rotations – particularly in Europe – have been necessary to cope with the physical demands of the season.
He added: “I think the biggest problem is to not have all of the players because, in the beginning, people talk about our rotation – especially in Europe, we are changing all the time. It’s because of this, because it’s really hard, and the Europa League is so much harder, in my opinion, than the Champions League. Not the games but the recovery to play Premier League on the weekend, so we have to deal with that.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Since leaving Sporting CP, Amorim has struggled to adjust to the demands of English football. His time at Manchester United has been marked by inconsistency, with the team losing eight of their first 16 league matches under his leadership. Their recent FA Cup elimination by Fulham only deepened the disappointment in a season that has failed to meet expectations.
“In the Premier League, every game is really important,” Amorim said. “In our moment, we need to win. It’s always a problem when we don’t win so we have to focus on everything at the same time.”
WHAT NEXT FOR UNITED?
With a demanding schedule ahead, Amorim and his squad must find a way to manage fatigue and achieve consistency to rescue their season. Beating the title-chasing Gunners would provide a crucial lift as United strive to return to the top half of the table.
