France - According to coach Ruben Amorim, Europa League matches are slower than the Premier League, giving Man Utd players more time to think.
Under Amorim, Man Utd have won just six of their 20 Premier League games. They are currently 13th with 38 points, four points behind the team above them and are likely to finish in their lowest position in the Premier League era.
But in the Europa League, the "Red Devils" are unbeaten with five wins and one draw. In the quarterfinals, they face Lyon. The first leg takes place in France today and the return leg will be at Old Trafford on April 17.
According to Amorim, the difference in form is down to "speed and physicality" in the Premier League. "It's not about tactics," he said at a press conference ahead of the match at the Olympic Stadium. "The Premier League is the best league in the world. Sometimes you don't see much intensity, but compared to the Europa League matches, it's completely different."
The Portuguese coach has since argued that Man Utd have more time to think and are better suited to continental football. "If you have an extra second to think with the ball, it's a different game," Amorim analyzed. "There's a difference when we play in the Europa League compared to any Premier League match. That little bit of time can give us an advantage to play better."
Regardless of their Premier League performance, Man Utd will play in next season's Champions League if they win the Europa League. Amorim stressed that this is an important goal for him and his students to escape the empty-handed situation this season and gain more confidence for the 2025-2026 season. The 40-year-old coach noted that participating in the Champions League is also related to the budget for the summer transfer window.
The first leg of the quarterfinal was heated up by a war of words between Andre Onana and Nemanja Matic. After being criticized by Matic as the worst goalkeeper in Man Utd's history, Onana responded by targeting the midfielder for not winning any titles while playing at Old Trafford.
Amorim downplayed this war of words, saying that everything was just a misunderstanding. He also confirmed that Onana will start, although goalkeeper Altay Bayindir has recovered from injury and is in the best shape. Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw also returned after long-term injuries, while Matthijs de Ligt continues to be absent.