Ruben Amorim states that winning the UEFA Europa League is ‘very significant’ for Manchester United’s ‘sense of pride.’

Ruben Amorim has expressed confidence in Manchester United’s determination to clinch the UEFA Europa League title as they prepare for their semi-final clash against Athletic Club.

The Red Devils will face the Spanish side at San Mames in the first leg on Thursday night, with the match set to be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

After a disappointing campaign in the Premier League, where United currently find themselves in 14th place, Amorim acknowledged that securing a European title would not only restore some much-needed “pride” but also provide the significant reward of qualification for the UEFA Champions League.

“I think it is a little bit a pride thing,” he stated during an interview with TNT Sports. “We should be judged by the Premier League, not European football. You feel that the players really want this; it’s really important for us, not just for the title but also to secure Champions League for next year. That is really important for our club.”

United’s journey to the semi-finals has seen them rely on the unexpected contributions of makeshift striker Harry Maguire. The centre-back was pushed forward late in extra-time during a thrilling second leg against Lyon at Old Trafford, where he scored a last-minute winner to secure a dramatic 7-6 aggregate victory.

Amorim acknowledged the versatility of Maguire, suggesting that he can be a valuable asset in attack when the situation calls for it. “It’s a solution,” he explained. “For example, in Sporting, I used a lot of times one player, Sebastian Coates, quite the same characteristics as Harry Maguire: really strong in the air, really good in set pieces.”

He continued, “So we try to use the best characteristics in this kind of situation. You are not thinking in that moment that Maguire is a central defender. He’s a guy that can score a lot of goals inside the box, can move inside the box, so that is the idea.”

As United gear up for the challenge against Athletic, who currently sit fourth in La Liga and are vying for a place in the final at their home ground in Bilbao, Amorim was asked if this could provide extra motivation for their opponents. “Of course, but also an extra element of pressure,” he replied.

“We just need to be focused on the game, and we want this really bad. I know that they want to play at home in the final, but we are also fighting for a special thing, so it’s more than a game for us and we want to win it.”

Amorim is aware that the opening stages of the match will be crucial, predicting a fast and intense start. “We know that the first 20, 30 minutes are going to be really fast and really intense, but we have experienced players, and sometimes these kinds of environments are better for them,” he said.

Reflecting on the atmosphere at Old Trafford, he added, “I felt during the season sometimes with our supporters at Old Trafford, it’s harder for us to cope than when everyone is against us. I hope that tomorrow is the same thing.”