Manchester United head coach Reuben Amorim says the Europa League draw won’t be a distraction from the Premier League clash at Everton.
WHO: Everton vs Manchester United
Contents: English Premier League
Location: Goodison Park, Liverpool, UK
When: Saturday at 12:30pm (12:30 GMT)
Follow Al Jazeera’s live text and match photo commentary stream.
Manchester United head coach Reuben Amorim says he’s not distracted by the UEFA Europa League draw against Real Sociedad and is fully focused on Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Red Devils were drawn against the Spaniards in Europe’s final 16 on Friday. The contest represents United’s best chance to reach the Champions League next season for the next round, held at an event in Nayon, Switzerland.
The Amorim side came in 15th in the English Top Flight, one point behind the hosts at Goodison Park, on the early Premier League kickoff on Saturday.
“I just want to win against Everton,” Amorim told reporters at a pre-match press conference. “We are in a difficult situation in the Premier League, and there are many issues that every game needs to solve.
“If you look at our performances and focus on Real Sociedad or think about the trophies at the moment, that’s not the right way to do my job.”
Everton won four of his final five games to avoid the relegation zone.
That makes the trip to Toffee even more troublesome for Amorim, who lost his final four in the Premier League, including his final match at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
A 1-0 victory over Spurs’Man Utd saw them go above the Red Devils in the lower half ⬆️pic.twitter.com/33dkncnf3m
– Premier League (@premierleague) February 17, 2025
The Portuguese coach, who was in charge at Old Trafford when he replaced Eric 10 Hug in November, has only won four of his last 14 league matches. He will meet David Moe, the man who replaced Alex Ferguson with United Manager in 2013 in Saturday’s game.
United have not won a Premier League title since Ferguson’s final season of office. Amorim acknowledged that the Old Trafford-based outfit had a lot to do to turn the fortunes of England’s most decorated clubs.
“We’re in a difficult situation in the Premier League. There are a lot of issues that every game needs to be solved,” Amorim said. “There are more problems than solutions, and that’s clear.
“What I see in training is that they are improving and creating relationships.
“Even the sound of training is different. You have to use it in the game, see it in the game and take that step.
“We’re bonding and we know how we want to play, but we struggle with a lot in the game.”
Everton Team News
Everton welcomed midfielder Abdueye Ducole from a one-game ban after being sent in the Merseyside Derby against Liverpool.
But Toffee’s injury list remains long, with eight players missing, including Iliman Ndyey, Dwight McNeill and Dominique Calvert Lewin.
Manchester United Team News
The return of Christian Eriksen, Manuel Ugarte and Renie Yolo for United’s final trip to Goodison Park boosted Amorim’s hopes of returning to a way of winning.
However, Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw are those who remain on the long list of injuries.
Head on
This is the 196th meeting in which Manchester United won 91 times and Everton won 56 of the game.
Toffee lost his final five Premier League matches against United.
Premier League weekend starts today pic.twitter.com/vjo1ypnoyz
– Premier League (@premierleague) February 21, 2025
