Key quotes from Amorim ahead of FCSB

Wednesday 29 January 2025 21:00

Ruben Amorim arrived in Bucharest on Wednesday night and addressed the media at his press conference, ahead of the match with FCSB.

The Reds' final outing of this phase of the Europa League kicks off at 20:00 GMT on Thursday night, the same time as all the other games in the competition.

While there was more focus on Marcus Rashford's continued absence from the squad, rather than the tie itself, the boss also spoke on other subjects, including renowned track-and-field coach Harry Marra's arrival to help provide fitness advice, the threats offered by the home side at the National Stadium and how United are still dealing with losing the masterful managerial qualities of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Here are some of the key quotes from the boss...

Amorim and Yoro's press conference Video

Amorim and Yoro's press conference

PRESS CONFERENCE | Ruben Amorim and Leny Yoro spoke to the media shortly after touching down in Romania on Wednesday...

SURPRISED BY FCSB'S SPOT IN TABLE?

"No, it's not surprising [that they are eighth]. We prove that in the Premier League - we are Manchester United but we are so low in the table. So everything can happen in football. I know they're a strong team and can score a lot of goals from set-pieces. They can win matches without much possession. They're a really smart team and we have to perform well to win the game. We study the team to prepare for this game. Like I said, sometimes it's a team that's a little bit different in Europe. Without so much possession, they can score from set-pieces, with one striker who is really fast in transition. [David] Miculescu, left foot, is really strong. The two centre-backs are very strong on duels and the two full-backs go up and down until the 90 minutes. We'll be prepared for that, I'm sure my team are prepared to fight for the win."

FCSB THE UNDERDOGS AS ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL

"That is, of course a big difference. I cannot say a different thing as, when I was at Sporting, I said one thing so, at Manchester United I'm not going to say it doesn't matter. But it doesn't matter when the game starts. It's 11 v 11, and the other guys on the bench. We have to prove we are a better team and, for that, we have to run a lot. In competitions, especially in Europe, that can be the x-factor but we need to prove that on the field tomorrow."

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE UNITED'S LAST YEARS? A CRISIS?

"It's not a crisis, it is a problem because this is a massive club. This club has a person like Sir Alex, in charge of everything for so long. When you lose this kind of personality in a club, sometimes it's really hard to start again. I think that can happen at any club and especially in our club. Twenty-seven years with the same person, in charge of everything, who builds everything, all the kids, he brings them since the Under-14s. We need to start doing that without Sir Alex, just with small help from him, and that can happen in any club."

HARRY MARRA'S ARRIVAL

"It was not me, it was the club. We are always trying to bring experienced people to share the knowledge with the staff and to understand the body and how we can improve our players. It was not me, it's not something new, he's not there to coach the team, it's more to coach the staff about the running et cetera. It's a simple thing we are used to doing to improve as a club."

Amorim issues transfer warning

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The boss spoke about United’s activity in the winter window, as he previewed Thursday’s clash with FCSB.

RASHFORD'S SITUATION

"Again, the situation is the same as with every player. Last time, I talked about him. In the last game, my sentence was that I will not put any player in who won't give the maximum. I didn't say I would not put Marcus Rashford in. It's the same situation. When I feel it's the right moment, I will put any player in to play again. We are a better team with Marcus Rashford. That is clear. he is a big talent but, until the right moment, I will not change my mind. That is all. Always the same answer."

MORE ON MARCUS

"It's the same thing for everybody. Some players that don't play - Rashford is not selected and that is my choice. Imagine a profile of the players now, imagine a talent like Marcus Rashford. The team should be so much better with Marcus Rashford but he has to change. If he changes, we are more than welcome to put a talent like Marcus Rashford and we need it. In this moment, I think it's really clear, I have to set some standards, that is all. You try to make it something personal but it is nothing against Marcus. I just have to make the same rules for everybody. For me, it's so simple and always the same."

LET'S AVOID THE PLAY-OFFS

"It's always important, just the feeling of winning. It's really important when you have the situation of the play-offs. It's massive for us as we can clear one, two weeks without any game in the middle of the week. That is really important in this moment. Like I've said, the first thing is win the game and we need to improve the performance. We need to see our players perform to understand in each position they are better to play. So we have a lot to improve and we have to use every game and every training to see that."

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