Sports

Not Even Europa League Glory Can Save Man Utd’s Season, Says Amorim

Published

6 months ago

April 30, 2025

Ruben Amorim on Wednesday admitted that even winning the Europa League would not salvage Manchester United’s miserable season.

The fallen English giants face Athletic Bilbao in the semi-finals, with the first leg in Spain on Thursday.

But whatever the result at the San Mames, also the venue for May’s final, it will not disguise the fact that this has been United’s worst campaign of the Premier League era and one where bitter rivals Liverpool have equalled their record of 20 top-flight English titles.

United are currently a lowly 14th in the Premier League table, having accrued just 39 points with four matches remaining, meaning they will have to win the Europa League in order to qualify for the Champions League.

“Everybody knows that it’s really important for our season,” United manager Amorim said during a pre-match press conference.

“We know that nothing is going to save our season but this can be huge.

“Winning a trophy and also to get in the Champions League to have European games next year could change a lot of things in our club, even in the summer.”

United are bidding to win the competition for the second time after their success under Jose Mourinho in 2016/17.

“As the head coach said, this is not going to save the season,” said midfielder Manuel Ugarte.

“But the history of United is written with titles, so that’s why we’re focused very much on tomorrow and to be able to play in the Champions League next season, so it’s very important and altogether we’re going to try and win.”

Their European form has been the one saving grace for United in a difficult season where Amorim has struggled to make his presence felt domestically since replacing the sacked Erik ten Hag in November.

“Europa League will not change anything in our problems –- it’s going to help us to have Champions League next year, more money to spend –- but the problems are still there,” said Amorim.

“We have to change the minds of our fans with consistency, good decisions, good recruitment, good academy. This is what we need to change to take this club back to the top.

“This is more of a shortcut to go to European games. Nothing more.”

Two-time runners-up Bilbao have the added incentive of trying to reach a European final at their home ground.

“They are really strong as a team, really intense, really aggressive –- even for a Spanish team they are aggressive in every duel,” Amorim said.

“They have great players one v one. Nico Williams is a special player. They are the best defence in Spain in the league. We are not scoring too many goals, so it’s going to be a tough match for us.”

United will have Amad Diallo and Matthijs de Ligt, out since February and the start of April respectively, available.

“To start, no,” Amorim said. “But they can be in the squad for the game.”

Related Topics:#EPL Amorim Europa League Man United

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Sports

Ballon d’Or: Why Neymar Didn’t Win Award – Gerard

Published

6 hours ago

October 16, 2025

Editor

Barcelona legend, Gerard Piqué has said that Brazil legend, Neymar could have won the Ballon d’Or had he remained at the Catalan side a little longer.

Neymar left Barça for PSG in 2017, becoming the costliest player in the world.

Pique said that the move stopped the Brazilian from winning the Ballon d’Or.

He said that the superstar footballer actually deserved to win the France Football award in his career.

Speaking on the PodPah podcast, Pique, who was Neymar’s teammate for many years at Barcelona, said he tried to convince the Brazilian not to make the move but the former PSG star did not listen to him.

“I’m convinced he deserved a Ballon d’Or. I think going to PSG hurt him. We tried to convince him not to go, we did everything possible.

“Everyone thought he was going to stay, even me, but it seemed that it was already decided. In the end, he had an incredible career,” he said.

The Brazilian was at Camp Nou until 2017 when he decided to move to PSG who were willing to activate his €222 million release clause.

He left for Al-Hilal in 2023 and returned to Brazil with Santos in 2025.

Sports

Lionel Messi Names 10 Best Young Players Currently

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6 hours ago

October 16, 2025

Editor

Argentina and Barcelona legend, Lionel Messi, has named the 10 players he sees as future stars.

The legendary attacker has players from Chelsea and Liverpool in his list.

As part of an Adidas campaign, the 8-time Ballon d’Or winner was asked to name the players he deems the next big stars in the game.

The Inter Miami goal king partnering with Adidas Football for the ‘Messi+10: Season 2’ campaign named his 10 best rising stars.

He named Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha, Chelsea’s Andrey Santos, Kendry Paez, also of Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder, Brajan Gruda.

Others are Nico Paz (Como), Rodrigo Mora (Porto), Mika Godts (Ajax Amsterdam), and Kader Meite (Stade Rennes).

He named two female players, Barcelona’s Clara Serrajordi and Olympique Lyon’s Lily Yohannes.

Messi made a similar selection in 2024 to include Lamine Yamal, Antonio Nusa and Kenan Yildiz.

Sports

2026 World Cup: Why ‘England Can’t Win Trophy’ – Paul Scholes

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6 hours ago

October 16, 2025

Editor

Former England international, Paul Scholes, has said that the country stands no chance of winning the 2026 World Cup to be hosted in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

England became the first European country to qualify for the World Cup on Tuesday after beating Latvia 5 goals to nothing.

Scholes said Thomas Tuchel’s team has ‘no chance’ of winning the tournament unless the German gaffer brings his ‘three best players’ back into the squad.

Tuchel will now be hoping to lead England to their first major trophy in men’s football since 1966.

The former Chelsea manager was appointed as Sir Gareth Southgate’s successor last year.

England made it to two European Championship finals and two World Cup semi-finals under Southgate but failed to lift those trophies.

But former Manchester United midfielder, Scholes believes that England has ‘no chance’ unless Tuchel brings his ‘three best players’ back into the fold.

Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish were left out of the team for their last matches.

“I was a little bit surprised. Those three players, they have to be in his squad and they will be in his squad for the World Cup,” Scholes said on The Overlap.

“If you look at the squad now, you would say they have virtually no chance of winning the World Cup. Even with those three players it’s still a big ask but it gives you more of a chance of winning the cup.

“Jude Bellingham has missed a little bit of football but he’s fit now so I would have brought him back in.

“Thomas Tuchel hasn’t got many games left now until the World Cup actually starts, it’s only the November break and then the March one and then we’re there so we need to get these players playing.”

While announcing his squad for the last international break, Tuchel insisted he had ‘no problem’ with the omitted players, especially Bellingham.