Amorim and Maguire on Onana, Lyon and importance of Utd winning Europa League
16/04/2025
uefa europa league
Manchester Utd 2-2 Lyon quarter finals second leg
16/04/2025
uefa europa league
Manchester Utd 2-2 Lyon quarter finals second leg
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Hello everyone, welcome to press conference for our Europa League quarter-final tomorrow
00:12against Lyon.
00:13We have Ruben Hammerin and Harry Maguire.
00:15Please identify who your question is for.
00:18Let's start with Simon.
00:20Hi, Ruben.
00:22First of all, are you able to provide an update on the severity of Joshua Xerxes injury?
00:26Joshua is out for the season, so he's not going to play more this season.
00:30Let's prepare him to the next one.
00:34How's he doing mentally?
00:36It's tough, especially in this moment.
00:39I think he's improving in all aspects of the game, so it's hard for any player to stop.
00:45But it's football and he has to be ready now to recover.
00:49There's been a lot of talk about the goalkeepers in the last week.
00:53Will you be able to confirm who's starting?
00:54Onana, he will play tomorrow.
00:58Just on the other players that are absent, do you expect Matthijs Thalit to be back before
01:03the end of the season, or is he likely to be out for the season?
01:05No, Matthijs is going to return still this season.
01:10Aiden is out for this game.
01:11He had a small issue in the same spot during training, a contact with a teammate.
01:18Johnny Evans returning to the training, but he's not available for this game.
01:26And some other players that we have to manage the minutes.
01:29We saw Ahmad doing some ball work.
01:32Do you expect him to play this month, or would it be probably in May?
01:35Yeah, this month I think he's not ready for this month, but we hope to have Ahmad still this season.
01:49Just in terms of Andre, what do you have to think about before you make a decision?
01:55Because it's clearly a big decision.
01:59No, I just think, first of all, as a coach and also as a former player, I try to do things that can help a player in this situation.
02:07So, sometimes we talk about managing players physically.
02:13We have to manage them also mentally.
02:15But then they have to return to competition.
02:18And Onan is ready.
02:19He had one weekend that I felt that it was better for him to not play.
02:23And a good thing for Altai to play.
02:26And this week, my thinking was to put Onan to play.
02:33Harry, we know how big this competition now is.
02:37For Manchester United.
02:39What is your view of United being in this situation where you're in the bottom half of the table.
02:46And this competition is the only thing that can save it from being a disastrous season.
02:54No, obviously it's been a disappointing season.
02:57There's no doubt about it.
02:58From the start of the season, we've been far too inconsistent.
03:04I think the performances have picked up of late.
03:07However, I still think there's key aspects in a game where us players have got to take more responsibility and got to change them in our favour.
03:15There's been a lot of games that have been 50-50 and we've ended up on the bad end of the result.
03:20And that's something that we do need to work on as a team, as a group of players.
03:25But of course, yeah, tomorrow night is an important night for us in the competition.
03:29A big game, Old Trafford, European night and one that we're looking forward to.
03:33Harry, what does it mean to a player at United to actually finish the season with a trophy?
03:37How important is it that you actually have something tangible to show at the end of the season?
03:42Yeah, of course, it's so important.
03:44There's no doubt about it that if we do win the Europa League, it's still going to be a disappointing season for us players.
03:50But winning that would be a big bonus.
03:52Playing for this club demands trophies.
03:56And winning the Europa League would be a special trophy to win, of course.
03:58It gives us access to the Champions League next season.
04:01Something that we obviously can't gain through the Premier League because our results haven't been good enough.
04:07So, no, it's important that we win trophies at this club.
04:10Every competition that we're playing, we've got to try and win.
04:12And this is the only competition that we're left in.
04:14So, of course, tomorrow night is a big game for us.
04:17We know that and it's one that we're looking forward to.
04:20Ruben, a lot's been made of what it means in the short term, but also in the long term.
04:26Already mid-April, are you thinking of next season, whether you qualify for Champions League
04:30or whether you don't, do you have a plan A and a plan B?
04:33I think it's more about the budget.
04:36I think that is important when you are planning the next season.
04:40Champions League can change everything.
04:44But you can see it in both ways.
04:48So, if you have Champions League, it's going to be tough to play against top teams on Wednesday
04:56and then top teams in Premier League.
04:58We are in the moment that you can feel that the team needs a lot of work.
05:02A lot of work means a lot of time to train.
05:05So, you can see it both ways.
05:06If you don't have Champions League, we want Champions League.
05:08We want to win the title.
05:10It's the most important thing.
05:11It's the best thing.
05:13But if you don't have Champions League, you can think that you will have full weeks
05:17to rebuild the team and to have more time to work.
05:21So, that is important when we are going to make the plan for the next season.
05:25It's really important.
05:26It will change everything.
05:29Ruben, what is the process when it comes to you picking your goalkeeper?
05:33Do you just pick yourself or do you consult George Vital and the other coaches as well?
05:38Of course, the staff is there.
05:40It's not just to be there.
05:41Of course, I have conversations and then I have my feeling as a coach, as a former player.
05:46Then I'm trying to imagine the game because they have, of course, they are defending a goal,
05:51but they have different characteristics.
05:53So, I make the evaluation the same way that I make for the other players.
05:58Of course, the other players, the way we want to play is more with me.
06:01Of course, I have a conversation with the staff, but, of course,
06:05Craig and Vital has a huge impact in my decision.
06:11Hi, Ruben.
06:12Just back on Andre.
06:14Is there a danger that taking the decision you did for the Newcastle game,
06:18does that not put him under even more pressure and more scrutiny when he comes back tomorrow night?
06:23Yeah, that is the dilemma.
06:27Yeah, not just the dilemma, but this is the big factor on being a coach.
06:32Everything you do has two ways.
06:35And if Andy is going to be really good tomorrow, I'm sure of that.
06:41But if it's the other way, people will say that it was a bad decision.
06:45So, we never know.
06:47I'm trying to be clear on things and try to make the evaluation,
06:52be really simple, not overthinking.
06:55And when I imagine the game and I see Andre Onana, he had one weekend at the rest.
07:01Now he's ready to return to the competition.
07:03And I chose Andre to start this game.
07:05And just on the Europa League, you obviously want to win the tournament.
07:08But is this team and squad good enough to play in the Champions League next season,
07:11given you're going to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League?
07:14If you look at this moment, I think we are not ready to cope,
07:17to be really competitive in Premier League and to cope with Champions League.
07:21I think it's really clear and you have to be really clear.
07:24But then you play in one club, you should fight for this competition.
07:29You should be on Champions League.
07:30If you have Champions League, you know that you have a different budget
07:35to try to put a better team for the next season.
07:39But this team with new players will need time to work.
07:44So, I think it's something that we'll discover next year, hopefully.
07:49Ruben, do you need a new goalkeeper this summer?
07:53Are you happy with the goalkeepers you have here?
07:55No, I think we need to improve.
07:57So, we cannot look to the team of Manchester United and say,
08:04we are in this position in the league.
08:06We have been really underperforming this season.
08:09And you cannot change all the players.
08:11What we should do is to improve any position on the team with the players that we have
08:16and try to bring different characteristics for the next year.
08:21So, very politely, can you answer my question?
08:22Do you need a new goalkeeper?
08:23Yeah, I know you want one question, but you choose the questions, I choose the answer.
08:28My answer is that we need to improve every position on the field.
08:32Goalkeeper is the same.
08:33We can work with Andre.
08:35If the team performs, if our team scores more goals
08:38and is more dangerous on the forwards and the strikers,
08:43we will defend better.
08:45O'Neill will defend better.
08:47Andre O'Neill already proved that he is a top player in Inter.
08:52So, he has a pass.
08:53I'll tie the same thing in front of us.
08:55Sometimes you have some seasons that we are underperforming.
08:59If we are going like, if any player is underperforming, you have to change everything.
09:04That is not the process that we need now.
09:06I respect that, but he consistently has made mistakes for Manchester United.
09:09Yeah, but again...
09:10So, it's not just one season.
09:11So, you're a coach.
09:13You're saying there's a possibility maybe you might get a new keeper in the summer?
09:17No, what I'm saying, we are going to make that evaluation
09:20for any position in the squad.
09:26If we are talking about mistakes, you can see my record.
09:29My record is the worst one in our team.
09:31So, I'm also underperforming and I think I'm the right guy to coach the team.
09:35So, I think the same for Andre.
09:38Hi, Noah, Ziggersport Netherlands.
09:40A question to the coach.
09:41Can you give us an update on Matthijs de Ligt?
09:42And do you think that he will return before the end of the season?
09:45Yeah, he's going to return until the end of the season.
09:49He has some pain.
09:50He finished the game against Nottingham.
09:53So, sometimes it's something that we need to be sure that he's in the right moment
09:57to return to competition.
09:59He's working really, really hard and he's a tough guy.
10:03So, we expect to have Matthijs in the next weeks.
10:09A question for Harry, please, if I may.
10:11What's it like as defender to play in front of Andre?
10:14And also, when there are issues with saves or whatever,
10:18is it a kind of robust conversation that you have with him?
10:20You're a bit of a captain of this club or is it more of an arm around the shoulder?
10:25No, I think first and foremost, Andre has proved in his past
10:28that he's an excellent goalkeeper.
10:30He's proved it.
10:31He's won numerous trophies, played in Champions League finals.
10:36And during a career, you always have spells where you go ups and downs
10:39and you find yourself a little bit out of form.
10:41And it's about how you build yourself back in
10:43and find that confidence to perform again.
10:47And I think at the moment, he's probably feeling that everything's going against him.
10:50But you take game by game and I'm sure he's, again, he's going to be there tomorrow night.
10:56He's a big personality, a big character.
10:58And he'll be looking forward to the game.
10:59He'll want to show everyone again what he's about.
11:03And now playing in front of Andre, it's great.
11:05I have confidence in Andre.
11:07Like I said, he's had a fantastic career.
11:10He's got a great experience.
11:11And we all know he's an excellent goalkeeper.
11:18Just on Andre again, Ruben.
11:19You said that you've talked to your coaching staff about him.
11:23Have you spoken to him personally?
11:24And did you need that conversation to be convinced that he can come back and perform on Thursday night?
11:29When I made that decision in the last week and I talked before that decision, I talked with Andre.
11:38And that is important for me to explain the player for him to understand what I'm thinking.
11:43And then sometimes the player is saying one thing and I understand it is a different thing.
11:48Sometimes it's my feeling as a coach that can make my decision more than what they are saying to me.
11:55Because sometimes they want to show like they are really confident and I feel it the other way.
12:01So I'm giving just an example.
12:02So I have the conversation, but then it's my decision in the end.
12:07But having spoken to him, you are convinced and quite happy that he's good to go on Thursday night.
12:11Yeah, I have that feeling.
12:13For sure, if not, just thinking about the team.
12:16The team is the most important thing.
12:17I'm not putting Andre because I think Andre deserves to return to competition.
12:22I'm just thinking about the game.
12:24It's really important for us.
12:26Last question, Rob.
12:28For Harry, please, if I can.
12:30Obviously, all the questions are about Andre.
12:31The spotlight is on him.
12:32You've had situations at this club where it's been you with the questions and the spotlight on you.
12:37Can I ask what that's like and how do you deal with that at this club?
12:43Try your best to ignore it all.
12:46Focus on your job.
12:46Come in on a daily basis and do your best.
12:51I always said to myself, just, that's only what you can do.
12:54Tomorrow night is another game of football.
12:56And you go on that pitch and you give absolute everything.
12:58And when you walk off, you say to yourself, I've left everything out there.
13:03And no matter how you perform, that's only what you can do.
13:05And it's the same for any player who wears this badge, it comes with a responsibility to perform.
13:12And when you don't perform and when the league results aren't good enough, there's people who obviously do come under the spotlight.
13:17I've been in that situation myself.
13:19But like I said, only what you can do is day in, day out, do your best, work as hard as possible and take each game as it comes.
13:26Thank you very much.