Ruben Amorim has responded to Arsene Wenger after the former Arsenal manager suggested it was wrong for Manchester United to qualify for the Champions League through the Europa League route.
Arsène Wenger has been making huge claims this week suggesting Manchester United should not be allowed to qualify for the Champions League through winning the Europa League.
The rule has been around for around a decade at this stage, but many have begun to question the validity of the rule now that United are close to benefitting from it, despite the fact the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt have won the competition when finishing 11th in the Bundesliga.
Speaking last week on the possibility of United qualifying for the Champions League, Wenger had the following to say: Wenger told BeIN Sports, “No – they should qualify automatically for the Europa League again but not necessarily for the Champions League.
“Especially when you’re in the Premier League, where already five teams qualify. I think it’s something (for UEFA) to think about and to review.”
Ruben Amorim has heard these quotes from the former coach, which have been described as “pathetic” by United supporters, and responded in a savage fashion in his press conference before Bilbao, hammering home that he is well aware of the rules surrounding the competition.
Amorim responds to Wenger
Amorim has offered a blunt response to Wenger after the Frenchman suggested United should not qualify for the Champions League if they are victorious in the Europa League.
Speaking to reporters at Carrington, Amorim had this to say about the Frenchman’s statement: “I know the rules. If people want to change rules, by all means. The rules are if we win the Europa League, we go to the Champions League. We follow the rules.”
Amorim remained strong when speaking about the situation, and many have begun to ask why United are the only team that has raised a conversation about this subject in recent seasons.
Many have suggested the competition in the Europa League is much weaker this season, which has prompted teams who are 14th and 15th in their league collectively to get so far in the competition, but it remains a major European competition, and winning it should have a prize which reflects that.
A pointless conversation
The conversations taking place at the moment would not be had if this was a Leicester City vs a Nottingham Forest in the exact same positions in the Premier League. Manchester United being one of the sides who could be in final has sparked this discussion simply because they may benefit from it.
United have been poor, but remaining unbeaten against teams like Porto, Lyon, Fenerbahce and potentially Athletic Bilbao is no easy feat, and qualifying for the Champions League by that route is arguably a bigger achievement than simply finishing 5th in a domestic league.
The Reds will deserve a qualification if it comes, but if it doesn’t, expect the topic to die down, particularly if it’s Tottenham benefitting from the route to the Champions League as opposed to United.
Nonetheless, the players will not pay any heed to the outside noise, with Amorim and the squad looking ahead to Thursday against a Bilbao side that will be desperate for a comeback.
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