Manchester United’s Europa League Success: A Testament to Slower Pace?

Manchester United’s Europa League Success: A Testament to Slower Pace?

LYON, France — In a candid admission, Ruben Amorim, the manager of Manchester United, has revealed that his team finds it easier to navigate the Europa League compared to the high-octane environment of the Premier League. The reason? The slower pace of the Europa League games allows his players more time to think and strategize on the field.

Since Amorim took the reins in November, United has been on a roll in the Europa League, boasting an impressive record of five wins and one draw out of six matches. This stands in stark contrast to their Premier League performance, where the Portuguese coach has managed only six wins out of 20 matches. The disparity in performance has been a topic of much discussion among fans and pundits alike.

Amorim attributes this difference to the “pace and physicality” inherent in the Premier League. As he prepares his team for the Europa League quarterfinal first leg against Lyon on Thursday, he suggests that his squad is better suited to the style of play found in continental competitions.

“I think it’s nothing tactical,” Amorim stated. “I truly believe it’s the pace of the game, the physicality of the game. We have the best league in the world, sometimes the games you don’t see a lot of intensity but I can guarantee you compared to games in the Europa League — and I have the data to think about it — it’s completely different.”

He further elaborated, “And if you have one more second to think with the ball, it’s a different game. Until now I felt a difference when we play Europa League and when we play any Premier League game, so that small space of time can give us an advantage to play better.”

Currently, United finds itself in a precarious position in the Premier League, sitting 13th in the table with just seven games left to play. The recent goalless draw with Manchester City has done little to improve their standing. However, the Europa League presents a glimmer of hope for salvaging what has been a challenging season at Old Trafford. A successful run could culminate in silverware and secure a coveted spot in next season’s Champions League.

Amorim emphasized the importance of the Europa League, saying, “It’s really important in all aspects, the first one is to win a title, a European title. Winning something like that is massive for us, for our confidence, then the future for next season.”

He added, “Playing Champions League in our club is completely different. The budget for the summer; everything is connected with this competition.”

In a boost to the squad, Kobbie Mainoo has returned to the team after a two-month injury hiatus and has traveled to France. Luke Shaw, who made his comeback against City, is also part of the traveling squad. However, Matthijs de Ligt remains sidelined.

• Amorim on de Ligt: “Mattha has a problem in his foot, we are trying to assess,” he said. “We still don’t have the data that he can return.”

As the Red Devils prepare to face Lyon, the focus will be on maintaining their strong Europa League form. The slower pace of the competition seems to be a perfect fit for Amorim’s tactical approach, and fans will be hoping that this advantage can propel them to European glory.