Ruben Amorim makes Man Utd admission after conceding they'd be better OUT of Champions League

Ruben Amorim knows the pressure on him will intensify if he cannot lead to glory next week. Amorim has already admitted lifting the trophy – and with it securing football next season – may not be the best outcome as he looks to rebuild his squad.

The Portuguese coach knows he needs more time to work with his squad and that the added burden of eight European games is likely to hamper his chances of progress. But with United down in 16th place in the table and about to complete their worst season of the era, Amorim knows he has no option but to win in Bilbao.

Asked about the pressure on him increasing if United fail to beat Spurs next Wednesday, Amorim said: “Yeah for sure, if we don’t win. But I’m not concerned about that.

“It’s going to be really bad [if United lose]. I don’t want to use that as an excuse, but it’s going to be really tough. That's my feeling. The patience of the fans and you guys, and the patience for next season will have reached its limit and we'll have to be perfect.”

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Pressed on why he felt United may be better off without Champions League football next season, Amorim said: “That is my feeling - we need more time with the team. We need to arrange a lot of things at Carrington [United's training ground] and we need more time - not think game by game.

“Then we have the squad. We proved this year we need to be a better squad if we want to win European games and then be really competitive during the Premier League.”

Despite the most shambolic season since United were relegated in 1973-74, Amorim said he can sense the excitement building at the club ahead of the make-or-break European final.

“You can feel that a final is different,” said Amorim. “This season has been really tough on everyone, not just the results but also the changes in the staff. You can feel it in our club.

“We are addressing that during the season, we are changing the way we play during the season. We have had so many bad results in the Premier League, so the environment is tough at the moment.

“But when we're preparing a game in the Europa League, the environment is a little bit different. You can feel the excitement, but at the same time you can understand the environment this year is really tough.”

Even though they have under-performed in the Premier League this season, Amorim knows his players are capable of lifting themselves next week to end a tough campaign on a high.

"Our players have proved in the past that, in these kinds of games, they can do that,” said Amorim. “So we will be prepared for the game. It would be massive for us to win something, to give something to the fans. My message to the players will be 'we need to win it or else it doesn't matter'."

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