There are a small number of Manchester United players at risk of being dropped for the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur next week.
Manchester United face a pivotal night, with a Europa League victory securing their place in the 2025/26 Champions League.
Such a win would also represent a bright spot in an otherwise turbulent chapter for the club, marking their third trophy in three seasons.
However, their ongoing Premier League struggles cannot be ignored and will require serious attention under Ruben Amorim next season.
Fortunately for United, their final opponents, Tottenham Hotspur, are in a similarly difficult position. In fact, Spurs are currently the only team below United in the Premier League table not facing relegation.
Despite disappointing league campaigns, both clubs have the chance to end the season on a high by claiming European silverware.
Amorim warns United players about Chelsea fixture
With a game against Chelsea coming before that all-important clash, many expected Amorim to completely rotate in that game to protect players ahead of the final.
However, the United boss has instead stated his intentions to play a strong team against the Blues and even claimed that there are spots still up for grabs in the eleven he choses from the start in Bilbao.
“The best thing to prepare the final is to play the game [against Chelsea]. The players have to understand that if you play or don’t play against Chelsea, it means nothing to the final, that is important,” he told journalists.
“I know the starting XI I am thinking for Chelsea, then I will see. Even the way we play there, against Chelsea, I will see it and it’s going to be important for the next one.”
Then asked to clarify whether players have still got the chance to prove themselves to become starters against Spurs, he added: “Yes, that is clear.”
Three players who could be dropped vs Spurs
Of course, several players are safe from being dropped no matter how they play against Chelsea – the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Harry Maguire will all be in the lineup.
However, other players will need to prove themselves against Chelsea and if they do not, they could be at risk of falling out of the team ahead of next week.
Despite being the only fit centre-forward available in the Europa League, Rasmus Højlund’s place in the lineup is somehow not guaranteed.
There have been calls for United to play without a recognised centre-forward, like they did in the FA Cup final against Manchester City last term, and another poor performance from the Dane would make Amorim have to seriously consider that option.
Meanwhile, the United boss will also be assessing the midfield and whether to move Fernandes deeper alongside Casemiro or keep him further up the pitch. The recent performances of Manuel Ugarte have led to that question and the Uruguayan will be needing to prove himself against Chelsea to ensure he doesn’t drop out of the team.
Finally, depending on the fitness of Leny Yoro, we could see a change at wingback and Patrick Dorgu needs to try and impress on that left flank. He has shown promise but his final ball leaves a lot to be desired.
If he doesn’t have to play in the back three, Luke Shaw could try and push Dorgu out of the team for the final, but the 20-year-old will likely get the chance to try and solidify his spot against Chelsea.
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