Ruben Amorim has revealed his intent to coach the current Manchester United squad next season — while telling Alejandro Garnacho to find a new club.
Following Wednesday’s Europa League final defeat by Tottenham Hotspur the Portuguese head coach offered to walk away from Old Trafford without any compensation if the board and fans no longer felt he was the man for the job.
Read: Shaw questions Man United players’ character after Europa final defeat
What’s the bigger picture?
Amorim has repeatedly insisted he will not quit despite United staring at their worst finish of the Premier League era. With one game of the season remaining — against Aston Villa on Sunday — they sit 16th in the top-flight table.
As per The Athletic, sources with knowledge of the matter, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, indicate Amorim addressed players at the club’s Carrington training ground on Saturday to inform them of his decision to remain at the club while offering brutal verdict on Garnacho.
Garnacho ‘thrown under the bus’ at Man United
Garnacho hinted at frustrations with Amorim after only being introduced as a 71st-minute substitute in Bilbao, adding that he would “see what happens” after a summer break.
Garnacho’s brother, Roberto, also posted a pointed message on Instagram saying his sibling had been “thrown under the bus” by Amorim suggesting that Garnacho’s miss against Athletic Club in the semi-final second leg helped inform his call to start Mason Mount over him against Spurs.
What Garnacho said
“It’s hard for everyone. The season was s***, both now losing the final tonight, and in the league, where we didn’t beat anyone, that’s the truth,” Garnacho told reporters. “Up until the final, I’ve played every round, and today to play 20 minutes… I don’t know. I’m going to try to enjoy the summer and see what happens after.”
Garnacho was dropped alongside Marcus Rashford for the Manchester derby in December before appearing to earn his manager’s trust again and being reinstated.The 20-year-old along with fellow academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo are among players the club is considering to sell as part of their efforts to comply with the financial fair play rules.
Read: Amorim reaffirms commitment to Manchester United amid sack claims
Garnacho joined United’s academy from Atletico Madrid in October 2020 and has gone on to make 144 appearances for the club, scoring 26 goals and adding 22 assists.He has played 58 times in total this season, featuring in all but one of the side’s 37 Premier League games.
Bruno Fernandes, who is the subject of interest from Saudi Pro League outfit Al Hilal, also suggested after the Europa League final that he is prepared to leave if the Old Trafford hierarchy decides to “cash in” on their club captain.
Amorim offers verdict on Garnacho’s stay at Manchester United
When Amorim was asked in his final pre-match press conference of the season on Saturday whether he has sought to clarify Fernandes and Garnacho’s futures since Wednesday night, he said: “I will speak with my players but my focus is the last game. I don’t know what is going to happen.
“We have a plan — we were prepared for both situations, with or without Champions League. We have an idea what type of squad we want. Now we have to focus on the game, we now have the last game and we have time to address those situations.”
United will host Villa on the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday, before embarking for a post-season tour of Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur
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