Manchester United are continuing to back manager Ruben Amorim despite their heavy defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final on Wednesday, according to PA news agency.
The Red Devils missed an opportunity to salvage their disastrous season as their first European defeat of the season meant the trophy and the chance of Champions League qualification slipped away from them in Bilbao.
United's bruising 1-0 defeat at San Mames was their worst top-flight result since relegation 51 years ago. They sit 16th in the table, one point ahead of winners Tottenham, heading into Sunday's final game of the season at home to Aston Villa.
Amorim has won just six Premier League games since being appointed in November and admitted after Wednesday's costly defeat that he would leave without compensation if the club or fans wanted it.
Ahead of the final, the Portuguese appeared to have the club's full backing regardless of the result against Tottenham, and PA reports that he retains the backing of the board despite the painful defeat in Spain.
Several United players gave Amorim strong backing after the heavy defeat, with captain Bruno Fernandes saying he was “the right man” for what the club still sees as a long-term project.
Luke Shaw has said the candid manager is “100 per cent the man” to oversee changes in “mindset” and “settings”, with fellow defender Diogo Dalot also expressing his support.
“I'm 100 per cent sure he's the right player for us because I see it every day,” the United defender said.
“The standards he sets for us, his demands on the club, the players and the coaching staff.
“There are a lot of changes happening at the same time, but ultimately it's what we do on the pitch. We have to take responsibility for that. No one else goes out on the pitch and tries to achieve results.”
United's defeat at San Mames has serious implications as the club now face their first campaign without European football since the 2014-15 season.
Champions League qualification is estimated to have cost the Red Devils around £100m, forcing them to tighten their belts under minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and complete a second round of cuts in a year.
Amorim revealed United had “two plans” for this summer's transfer window after the final, and PA understands the club's financial planning for the summer was based on the knowledge that they could miss out on a European place, although they hoped to sidestep Plan A.
The lack of midweek fixtures next season may give the Portuguese the opportunity to shape his team as he sees fit, but the implications of Wednesday's defeat cannot be ignored.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
