By Angu Lesley
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
Andre Onana’s Manchester United will seek to restore their reputation as a respectable football institution this Thursday when they clash with a Real Sociedad side also dealing with their own issues though not as grievous as Manchester United’s elimination from the FA cup last weekend.
The meeting of the European old guards in the Europa League eighth-finals play-offs at the San Sebastian will see Rubin Amorim’s team seek to return to winning ways against a Sociedad side that faces world football’s biggest clubs as Manchester United visit for the first leg of their UEFA Europa League (UEL) tie. It’s the third time in five seasons that these sides meet in the UEL, and it’s a contest La Real ought to relish given the visitors’ struggles.
The injury-plagued Manchester United squad travels to Spain with fatigue an added concern, after their FA Cup defence came to an end on Sunday with a fifth round penalties defeat against Fulham. A third loss from their last six matches across all competitions piled the pressure on head coach Ruben Amorim, who faces growing frustration from fans not just because of results, but also his side’s style of play.
Amorim is now targeting the Europa League as a major respite. On wednesday, during the pre-match conference Amorim highlighted the new stakes of the competition.
“I think it’s not a crucial thing for the future of the club… (but it would be) a massive difference in our season, especially because we are out of the (other) cups and in a bad position in the league,” Amorim told reporters.
“If we win the Europa League that could change a lot of things in the way (people) see the coach,” he joked.
Besides the need to savage this season, winning the Europa League would earn them a Champions League qualification spot for next season, which is virtually impossible for them to attain via the Premier League, where they sit 14th.
United will be without Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte for the first leg clash in San Sebastian after they suffered knocks during Sunday’s FA Cup defeat by Fulham.
Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw are among various other unavailable players amid the club’s injury crisis, along with teenage striker Chido Obi, who is not registered to play in Europe.
Meanwhile Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil said he was not sure if midfielder Martin Zubimendi would be fit to face United after he was taken off during the 4-0 league defeat by Barcelona on Sunday.
Alguacil considers the Red Devils as the “big favourite” to win the Europa League.
“I don’t agree with those who say they are coming here in a bad moment, they have less wins in the league than they deserve for how they’ve played, they have a great squad and some top players,” Alguacil told a news conference.
United won the Europa League in 2017 and have three Champions League wins in their history, while Real Sociedad have never reached a European final.
Onana will be telling tonight if Manchester United have to leave San Sebastian with a different impression from their fans.
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