Amorim calm after 4-3 chaos: Europa League is the only priority for Man Utd

Ruben Amorim remained calm after Manchester United’s chaotic 4-3 defeat at Brentford, insisting the Premier League setback must be viewed through the lens of their Europa League ambitions.

The result was United’s 16th league defeat of the season and confirmed they will finish in the bottom half for the first time in over three decades.

However, Amorim was clear that his priority is Thursday’s decisive Europa League semi-final second leg against Athletic Club.

He made eight changes to the side that had dismantled Athletic 3-0 in Bilbao. The average age of his starting XI was just over 22, making it one of the youngest line-ups in Premier League history.

Despite their inexperience and visible disjointedness, Amorim defended the selection.

“We have a big responsibility in Europe,” he said. “We need to prepare a squad that can handle different competitions. It’s tough, but this is the reality we’re in.”

The match itself offered little in the way of defensive stability. Brentford took full advantage of United’s fragility at the back, particularly from set-pieces and throw-ins.

These are areas Amorim admitted his team struggled with due to a lack of height and cohesion.

“We started well and controlled the game early, but like in some of our first games, we lost focus for a moment and conceded two quick goals,” he added. “That’s something we must improve.”

Matthijs de Ligt’s first-half injury compounded United’s problems. The Dutch defender limped off with what appeared to be a muscular issue.

His participation in Thursday’s match is in doubt. Amorim had no clear update: “I have no idea,” he said. “It could be three days, it could be longer.”

Despite the result, Amorim praised the performance of his young players, noting their composure and ability to maintain structure in a frenetic match.

“There are good things for the future,” he said. “They need minutes in games like this to understand the speed and physicality required.”

With their domestic campaign effectively over, United’s focus is firmly on lifting the Europa League trophy – a path that could also secure a return to the Champions League.

“It’s a dilemma,” Amorim admitted. “We’re not ready to compete on all fronts right now, but winning the Europa League would give us time and a reason to rebuild properly.”