Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has warned his players against complacency ahead of their Europa League meeting with Romanian side FCSB.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Amorim acknowledged that FCSB are the underdogs but insisted they still have the tools to hurt United at the National Arena.
In particular, Amorim singled out 23-year-old attacker David Miculescu as someone United need to be wary of.
Asked if he was surprised by the fact that FCSB are eighth in the Europa League standings, Amorim replied, “No, it’s not surprising [that they are eighth]. We prove that in the Premier League – we are Manchester United but we are so low in the table. So everything can happen in football. I know they’re a strong team and can score a lot of goals from set-pieces. ”
“They can win matches without much possession. They’re a really smart team and we have to perform well to win the game. We study the team to prepare for this game. Like I said, sometimes it’s a team that’s a little bit different in Europe.”
“Without so much possession, they can score from set-pieces, with one striker who is really fast in transition. [David] Miculescu, left foot, is really strong. The two centre-backs are very strong on duels and the two full-backs go up and down until the 90 minutes. We’ll be prepared for that, I’m sure my team are prepared to fight for the win.”
On FCSB being underdogs, Amorim remarked, “That is, of course a big difference. I cannot say a different thing as, when I was at Sporting, I said one thing so, at Manchester United I’m not going to say it doesn’t matter.”
“But it doesn’t matter when the games starts. It’s 11 v 11, and the other guys on the bench. We have to prove we are a better team and, for that, we have to run a lot. In competitions, especially in Europe, that can be the x-factor but we need to prove that on the field tomorrow.”
Amorim was asked whether he would define United’s last few years as a crisis. He responded, “It’s not a crisis, it is a problem because this is a massive club. This club has a person like Sir Alex, in charge of everything for so long. When you lose this kind of personality in a club, sometimes it’s really hard to start again.”
“I think that can happen at any club and especially in our club. Twenty-seven years with the same person, in charge of everything, who builds everything, all the kids, he brings then since the Under-14s. We need to start doing that without Sir Alex, just with small help from him, and that can happen in any club.”
Earlier on Wednesday, a report covered by The Peoples Person revealed that United brought in iconic athletics coach Harry Marra to help improve the team’s performance on the pitch.
It was indicated that Marra’s services were enlisted to provide advice on different aspects of athletics, like the mechanics of running to cover ground with speed and endurance.
Amorim said about Marra’s presence, “It was not me, it was the club. We are always trying to bring experienced people to share the knowledge with the staff and to understand the body and how we can improve our players.”
“It was not me, it’s not something new, he’s not there to coach the team, it’s more to coach the staff about the running etcetera. It’s a simple thing we are used to doing to improve as a club.”
Amorim stressed that it’s important United beat FCSB to clinch automatic progression to the round of 16 and avoid playing two-legged play-offs in February.
The United head coach was accompanied in the presser by Leny Yoro, who gave his reasons for joining United in the summer.
The Frenchman explained, “Why United? Everyone knows the history of Manchester United, the greatness of this club, so I knew from the beginning that it was the right club for me. I spoke to a lot of people. It was the right choice.”
On playing in a three-man defence system, Yoro noted, “I’ve played in a 3-man defence in the past, so the adaptation was easier. In this system, I can use my qualities with the ball, defend high. For me, it’s a good thing.”
FCSB vs. United kicks off at 20:00 GMT.
Featured Image Stu Forster via Getty Images
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
