Manchester United

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There is no overlooking how poor Manchester United's league form has been and how disappointed fans have been in the players.

Ruben Amorim has been quite outspoken since he has come in. People have enjoyed his honesty, but at the same time I am not sure his honesty has got the reaction from his players that has been needed. Maybe for some of those that honesty should be have been kept in-house and dealt with there.

The team are in a bad place, there is no overlooking how bad their form has been, but to help write that off this season, to be able to win the Europa League, qualify for the Champions League while finishing 15th or 16th in the Premier League, they would like to do that. You look at the history of the club, this looks set to be one of their worst league seasons for a long time – that is what Amorim has been talking about and why this Europa League could be a decisive moment.

In the short term, if they do not win it, I do not think Amorim will still be there. But, even if they do win it, there is still going to be bigger problems. Financially, I feel they are going to struggle to completely turn the team around in the summer, which they need to do. There is a lot of work that needs to be done at that club. It has not been right since Sir Alex Ferguson left – so many have come in and gone, and they just have not been able to find the right person.

Winning the Europa League and qualifying for the Champions League, in the short-term, papers over some of the cracks that are there, but in the long-term there are clear issues and in the medium term there are clear issues. That is something that I am sure behind the scenes they will be looking at.

They have a lifeline with this final to try and make something good of what has been a horrific season for everybody involved at the club.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

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We asked for your thoughts after Friday's Premier League game between Chelsea and Manchester United.

Here are some of your comments:

Chelsea fans

Chris: Chelsea flatter to deceive again. This Man Utd team are the worst in living memory. In a home tie, a squad assembled at the cost of over £1bn should be putting United to the sword. But scraping a scrappy win shows how far there is to go for this young team and I fear Champions League next season will expose that. Can you imagine them meeting PSG or Barcelona?

Nick: A gritty and professional performance from Chelsea in a game made very difficult by Man Utd's negative style, slow play and disruptive tactics. Chelsea ground out three points and controlled the game well after going in front, limiting United to only one shot on target over the 102 minutes. It wasn't an exciting game, but it was a job well done.

George: For a large part of the game, the two sides looked pretty even. Immediately after Cucurella's goal, I wanted Maresca to act and bring on a midfielder. He took 10 minutes to do that and that was too long for me. A lacklustre United fortunately didn't manage to take control in that time. When Lavia finally came on, Chelsea looked like they were just about going to hold on to their lead.

Roy: An ugly, but important win. Chelsea were very average but I couldn't quite believe how bad Manchester United were. To think that 10 years ago these two clubs were the real titans of the Premier League...

Man Utd fans

Andy: An utter disgrace. Hojlund is a total dead weight, he made not one positive contribution the whole game. Amorim doesn't understand the Premier League, he is totally out of his depth.

Michael: If you keep doing what you do, you keep getting what you get. Amorim's system clearly doesn't work in the Premier League. It's time for him to stop blaming everyone else and to change his thinking.

Rich: I would sack Amorim after this. There is nothing to show for the season and giving him the summer will result in United being in the same position this time next year.

Farid: Did anyone really believe that United would get a result at Chelsea? This is how we have become as Man Utd supporters, we don't believe this team can deliver in the Premier League. We are starting to accept mediocrity and defeat, and it is very sad to see how we have become! Even a Europa League title wouldn't make up for these terrible performances.

Did you know?

• This was Manchester United's 18th league defeat of the season, their most in a season since losing 20 in 1973-74 in the last season in which they were relegated.

• Manchester United have gone eight league games without a win (D2 L6) for the first time since an 11-game stretch between December 1989 and February 1990.

• Cole Palmer has created 87 chances in the Premier League this season, the most by a Chelsea player in a campaign since Mason Mount in 2020-21 (87) and Eden Hazard in 2018-19 (98). His 125 shots are the most since Didier Drogba in 2010-11 (150).

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Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day about the narrow defeat at Stamford Bridge: "I think we started well, but in the final third we needed to be a bit more aggressive. We were there, we faced the game in the right way, and it was a bit of bad luck.

"Sometimes we want to press to score a goal but we lose a little bit of concentration. It was different, but you never like it when you lose a game. We were competitive, that was clear.

"We have to prepare for each competition but, with a five day gap, we can rest. We have five days to prepare [for the Europa League final] - two days to fully recover and then two days to prepare.

"In the end, I looked at all of the players and I think they are OK.

"Of course we are excited to be in the final. The pressure has been there since day one but I live with the pressure quite well. When we have a final in any cup we show up, so we are prepared for that."

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

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Ruben Amorim sprung a surprise by naming a strong side for Friday's game at Chelsea with the Europa League final on the horizon.

His thinking was to ensure his key players will be competitive but even though publicly he said he was happy with Rasmus Hojlund's display, he will surely have had some concerns.

The striker has struggled to make his mark in the Manchester United attack and rarely troubled the Chelsea defence.

With just three goals in his last 15 appearances in all competitions his form is also unlikely to worry a Tottenham side that has beaten Manchester United three times this season.

But it has been a strange campaign in which dismal domestic results could ultimately be overshadowed by a cup final win and if Hojlund can provide a telling contribution then it might provide a spark for his own goal-scoring form.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Chelsea's performance

What did you make of United's display?

Come back to this page on Saturday to find a selection of your replies

Two matches make up Friday's Premier League action, and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Aston Villa v Tottenham (19:30)

• Chelsea v Manchester United (20:15)

Kick-off times BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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Diogo Dalot says he is "really pushing" to be back in contention for Manchester United's Europa League final against Tottenham and winning it would give something back to "suffering" supporters.

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, the defender, who has been sidelined with a calf injury since last month, said: "We will do whatever we can to find that win and to bring you that trophy because you deserve it.

"More than anything, I think you deserve the best because you have been suffering a lot throughout this season with us.

"I know that winning this competition is important, so I'm sure everybody in the dressing room and all of the staff know that we carry that weight with us.

"Together I think we are much stronger than people think.

"I'm really pushing myself to be available as soon as possible, but we will see."

When asked what winning the competition would mean, he replied: "What we have been doing this season hasn't been what this club deserves. Winning the Europa League is the least we could do for the fans because they have suffered just as much as us.

"We are used to European nights and European competitions at this club and it is an opportunity to put ourselves in the Champions League, which is where this club should be.

"That is where we want to be and where we want to go, so if we have that opportunity then we have to grab it with both hands."

Listen to the full pre-match interview on BBC Sounds

Chelsea could not have picked a better time to play Manchester United. This is a great opportunity for them in their bid for a top-five finish.

Chelsea are without suspended striker Nicolas Jackson after his red card against Newcastle, which ended their hopes of getting anything at St James' Park.

I am not sure who will play up front on Friday instead of Jackson, or who will get their goals, but I still fully expect Enzo Maresca's side to win.

Manchester United have still been fielding strong teams despite all the changes they have been making around their Europa League ties, but you would not think it from their performances or results.

It is not as if Ruben Amorim has been putting out his Under-18s in recent weeks but their Premier League form is dismal and I can't see any reason why that will change here.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Manchester United's 22-year-old striker Rasmus Hojlund faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford, with boss Ruben Amorim having to sell players before he can buy this summer. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Marcus Rashford will return to Manchester United, at least for pre-season, as there has been no negotiations with Aston Villa regarding the possible extension of the forward's future.

The player's camp do not believe current United head coach Ruben Amorim wants to restore the player to his squad, while minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has previously spoken about his frustration at some of the team's highest earners not being on the pitch.

The simple truth is if Rashford sticks to his guns over his wages – and his United contract does not run out until 2028 - very few clubs in the world could afford him.

It means United have to offer an incentive to negotiate a sale, through a reduced fee or offering to pay a portion of his wages or both.

Rashford had harboured hopes of a move to Barcelona in January but no deal materialised. Ideally, he would prefer to play for a club who are in the Champions League next season. It is not clear whether Liverpool or Manchester City would be interested, or whether the player would be prepared to join United's fiercest rivals.

In addition, it is not certain whether Rashford would be inclined to stay at United should they lose next week's Europa League final, and with Ruben Amorim's future coming under more severe scrutiny than is currently the case.

Either way, another loan deal rather than a straight transfer cannot be ruled out.

Read the full story here

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Marcus Rashford has potentially played his last game for Aston Villa after being ruled out of their game with Tottenham.

The striker, on loan from Manchester United, has failed to recover from a hamstring injury he suffered last month.

His absence for the rest of the season was anticipated, even if there was a slim hope he could play a part in Villa's Champions League push.

Rashford cannot play in Villa's final game at parent club United on 25 May and while Villa have a £40m option to buy his future remains unclear.

"Youri (Tielemans) and Marcus are not available and (Jacob) Ramsey is suspended and other players are ready," said boss Unai Emery at his pre-match press conference.

"We have to do each step forward, testing and analysing how they are recovering. I don't know exactly if they (injured players) will be (available next week). Marcus can't play next week.

"But they are working in the facilities every day and they are feeling better."

Rashford has made 17 appearances, scoring four goals, since joining from Old Trafford in February and earned an England recall in March after a 12-month absence.

Villa are sixth in the Premier League, level on points with Chelsea who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot with two games left.

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Chelsea vs Manchester United is the most drawn fixture in Premier League history (27). The reverse fixture at Old Trafford this season finished 1-1, with both meetings between the sides finishing level in seven previous campaigns (1998-99, 2000-01, 2006-07, 2015-16, 2018-19, 2020-21 and 2021-22).

Cole Palmer has scored four goals in his three Premier League games against Manchester United for Chelsea, including a hat-trick in this exact fixture last season. No Blues player has scored more against the Red Devils in the competition (Eidur Gudjohnsen also netted four).

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has spoken to the media before Friday's Premier League game against Chelsea (kick-off 20:15 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Amorim already knows what starting XI he is thinking for Friday's game but does not yet know for the Europa League final, so it is "clear" that players still have a chance to play Tottenham as the Chelsea match is "important" to that.

• On if the match against the Blues can help preparation for the final: "The best way is to face the game like we should face the game and that is to win the game. We need to perform, need to win points in the Premier League and that is the feeling. We need to improve the way we face competitions, stay focused in every moment in the game."

• The United boss said there is "time to recover" before the Europa League final so players need to "understand" that if they "play or don't play against Chelsea, it means nothing to the final".

• On if players will not be focused on Chelsea and will be concerned about injuries: "It is going to be a massive part this game to the next one. We need to perform and they need to perform. If there is a player who is not fully recovered for this game and a risk for final, he will not play. But, if it is not that situation, then there is lots of time to recover."

• He said his biggest concern about Leny Yoro's injury was for next season's squad and if he would need more players, "not just for the final".

• On if taking Luke Shaw off was an insurance policy for the left-back position: "Yes it was. It was clear we cannot take risks in several players. That was to save particularly that kind of position." He added: "It is the history [with Shaw]. We have to manage the minutes, like with Mason Mount. Mount is ready, but trying to build these guys a little longer so in the future they can cope and be okay."

• Amorim said he will look "like a crazy guy" if he talks about them being close to clicking when they are 16th in the league: "If you see the xG for example in the last games, ours is bigger. Against Wolves, you could see we were so near but they score set-pieces... I can understand that, but hard to talk about in this moment."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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BBC Radio Manchester's Joe McGrath says Manchester United are currently "giving with one hand and taking with the other" after fans experienced the highs of getting to the Europa League final followed by the lows of losing to West Ham in the Premier League.

Speaking on The Devils' Advocate podcast, McGrath said: "I think Ruben Amorim has brought the players down to such a level, with his way of speaking, that when they go up against a team like West Ham they can lose.

"If we got knocked out of the Europa League against Athletic Club and we played how we did against West Ham, I would have sacked him," he added.

When asked whether the club should sack Amorim if they lose the Europa League final against Tottenham, McGrath said: "It depends on how we lose the final.

"This season has been a disgrace - six wins out of 24 and 17 defeat overall in the Premier League.

"But we had a decent team out against West Ham, so why were we beaten? Are we one striker away from glory? Am I being too critical?"

BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater added: "I do think that no matter what happens, we do have to ask questions about a manager that has come in and put Manchester United potentially 17th place in the Premier League.

"Can any manager survive finishing 17th with Manchester United?

"What worries me is that it stinks of the Erik ten Hag situation. At the start of next season, Amorim is going to be under an unbelievable amount of pressure and there is a very high possibility that he won't be Manchester United manager at Christmas."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee is a summer transfer target for Inter Milan, after the 23-year-old's disappointing campaign. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport