Ruben Amorim has suggested that one Manchester United fan-favourite won’t be available for their final game of the season against Aston Villa.
Manchester United’s 2024/25 campaign is finally heading for the end and everyone is happy to be seeing the back of the worse season in the club’s recent history.
After the defeat in the Europa League final, United were thrown into the reality of their situation – no European qualification and sitting towards the bottom of the Premier League table.
That game in Bilbao would have given the club the opportunity to grab Champions League football despite their dismal domestic form. It didn’t happen.
Now, while everyone is focusing on the summer and how the club fixes their endless issues for next season, there is still one more game to play in the Premier League.
United host Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, and Unai Emery’s side will be desperate to win to try and secure Champions League football next season for themselves.
For United, if the games before the Europa League final were considered meaningless, this is something else. The only thing fans are hoping to see from this game is some youth players and a bit of pride.
Amorim suggests United fan-favourite won’t play vs Villa
No one really wants to see Ruben Amorim go full strength on Sunday, and many would much prefer seeing some exciting talents get a chance to impress.
The United boss also needs to be careful with certain players after they played in Bilbao as there is no reason to risk injury in this game.
Diogo Dalot and Joshua Zirkzee were rushed back from injury in time to make the bench in the final but it was Leny Yoro who started the game, and played 90 minutes, after suffering a knock earlier on in the month.
Yoro was one of the few players who could hold their head high after that game and he is quickly becoming a fan-favourite among the supporters after consistent performances.
Amorim has suggested that he is unlikely to risk the French defender against Villa as he does not want to impact the team for next season’s campaign.
When asked by club media if the squad had come back fit from Bilbao, Amorim replied: “No, there are some situations, like Leny. We have to be careful. We had that in the last [home] game before the final, I think it was West Ham, on his foot.
“We’re going to take care of some situations so as not to compromise next season. The rest, we want to win the game so we are going to put a squad together.”
Amorim shouldn’t pick United’s regular side
The atmosphere at Old Trafford will be strange, with protests against the ownership planned for before the game kicks off.
Amorim has had the full support from the matchgoing fans since arriving but even a lot of them were frustrated more than ever after the performance in the final.
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This is why there is no need for all of the regulars to start. They let the fans down on Wednesday and won’t even guarantee a result against a Villa side who are better than them.
Mixing a few senior players who might be playing their final game for the club – Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelöf, Jonny Evans – with some young talent and we can see what happens.
For most United fans, the final whistle on Sunday might be their highlight of the season.
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