Manchester United will aim to win the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League title when they lock horns with Tottenham Hotspur in the final at San Mames on Thursday night. Ruben Amorim has greeted positive updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro, and Joshua Zirkzee have resumed training, with the trio in the travelling squad going to Spain to take on Tottenham Hotspur. So, Lisandro Martinez (knee) and Matthijs de Ligt are the only players on the sidelines.
While de Ligt is not in the travelling squad, he should return before the 2024/25 season ends. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Amorim provided a fitness update on several players, including Dalot, Yoro, and Zirkzee.
The Manchester United manager said, “Me neither [expecting Zirkzee’s quick recovery]! So they recover quite well. They push, of course, and we have to respect the feeling of the player but we push a little bit, as they wanted to be part of the team. That is a very good sign. Very good for us. Of course, they are limited in the minutes for the game but they can help us win the game. De Ligt is out.”
Amorim also discussed whether the prospect of extra time and penalties will affect his team selection. The Portuguese tactician said, “No. I just think of the best starting XI to start the game. Then it’s really important to have options on the bench, to change the game. Sometimes, they are really, really important to win a final. I’m not thinking about going to extra-time. Of course, we have that possibility but I never think about that.”
The Manchester United boss continued, “Maybe, in the final minutes, if we have two subs, then one and can wait for extra-time to have a think about the possibility. But, in the beginning of the game, I just want to win the game really fast. We know and we proved against Lyon, if we have to score three goals in six minutes we are able to do it, especially with our fans in the stadium!”
Andre Onana will take his spot between the sticks, with the Red Devils lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him against Tottenham on Thursday. The central defensive unit should feature Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, and Leny Yoro. Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu will likely start as the two wing-backs. So, Dalot and Luke Shaw will be backup options on the bench.
As for the midfield unit, Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro will pair up in the double pivot. Finally, Rasmus Hojlund will lead the line for Amorim’s side against Tottenham, with Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo providing creative support. So, Zirkzee, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, and Alejandro Garnacho will be backup options on the bench.
Predicted Manchester United XI: Onana; Lindelof, Maguire, Yoro; Mazraoui, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu; Amad, Bruno Fernandes; Hojlund
