'It's a big chance to gain momentum'

It’s been a difficult season at Old Trafford, with the club struggling in the lower half of the Premier League table, but United will enter the final month of 2024/25 still dreaming of silverware.

Athletic Club stand between us and a final and they will be a significant obstacle, as the showpiece event takes place at the Basques’ San Mames home.

O'Shea thinks that, if we do defeat Ernesto Valverde's side over two legs and go on to lift the trophy, it will make a huge difference going into the next campaign.

“He’s been really refreshing to see, because he obviously wears his heart on his sleeve,” Sheasy said, when asked to judge Amorim’s first six months in the head-coach role.

“You can see how passionate he is, and also how honest he is in his interviews before and after the games as well, and there's no hiding place.

“He’s obviously worked at a high level, and now he's come into the intensity of the Premier League, which I'm sure would have taken him a little bit of time to adjust to.

“But now you can see, hopefully if we can get to this European final, it's a chance for the team to get a bit of early success under his stewardship.

“If he can get that, you can also get a lot of momentum behind it too.

“Listen, Manchester United will always be an attractive proposition, but we have to face the reality: there’s more competition now in the transfer market for other players.

“So when you're winning trophies, that always attracts players.”

Hopefully any new signings can match the impact of the three incomings from last summer that Sheasy went on to name.

The Irishman was renowned for his versatility during his playing career – famously playing in every position, including goalkeeper – and it’s something he sees in Noussair Mazraoui too.

“Right from the off, his flexibility and adaptability has been very helpful to the team,” he added.

“He’s showed really good qualities defensively, especially 1v1, and also in terms of attacking, he’s been able to contribute as well.

“I think he’s been a real positive.”

The 43-year-old also picked out Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro as a pair of defenders who we are beginning to see the best of, having adjusted to English football.

“I think Matthijs, in fairness to him, obviously he picked up a bit of an injury recently, but he was really starting to show some improved form and show that quality that everyone knows he possesses.

“I think it was just a matter of time really, with that consistency. He was going to find that level and it's getting to know new team-.mates as well. Settling into the English Premier League can always take a few months.

“With Leny, we’ll have no worries about him in terms of what he's going to develop into, and he's going to be an excellent player.

“You can see not only now, but, for the future, I think he'll be part of Manchester United's defence for numerous years to come, whether it be a back three or back four or whatever, whatever the manager wants to play.”

John was speaking at a United Foundation event at Ulster University, to showcase its ongoing outreach work across Derry-Londonderry and mark a new partnership with the International Fund for Ireland (IFI).