Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has said he has no plans to leave the club, and his sharp comments after Sunday's 2-0 defeat to West Ham United stemmed from his sense of responsibility for the team's poor performance.
United are experiencing their worst league season since relegation in 1974, with Sunday's defeat their 17th in 36 games and their ninth at the once-impregnable Old Trafford. Amorim said he may be forced to leave if the team's poor form continues.
"Since I arrived here, I've been talking about standards," Amorim said in a press conference today, ahead of Wednesday's Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur. "I can't see the team achieving these results, especially in the Premier League, and I'm keeping quiet and not taking responsibility."
He added: "I have a clear idea of what needs to be done, and I understand the team's problems, so I'm far from giving up. What I'm saying is that we need to perform well, and we've performed well this season, and in the future we have to perform well, otherwise they'll change us, and that's normal."
When asked what he would find more rewarding, lifting the Europa League trophy or qualifying for the Champions League, he said: "The Champions League is more important than anything else, to prepare for next season. We are supposed to participate in the Champions League, but the Europa League here is not enough, and that is what we feel here, and this is the best way to help us reach the top."
Amorim is unsure of his squad for next week's final, with Lenny Yoro, Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt and Aiden Haven all injury doubts for Friday's league match against Chelsea.
He continued: "I don't know if they will participate. We will try to push hard, and all the players are very keen to play in the Europa League final."
Amorim played with Benfica in the 2014 Europa League final, losing to Sevilla on penalties, and the coach said he was unable to draw on that experience in preparing his team.
He concluded: "I played the final as a player, but I lost, and it doesn't matter."
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