Ruben: Our loyal fans would swim to Bilbao!

Manchester United fans will travel in big numbers for Wednesday’s Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur.

Head coach Ruben Amorim is banking on the backing of our loyal support helping to roar us over the line at San Mames, and joked that they would swim to Bilbao in order to follow the team.

Journeys have already started to get out to the Basque Country, with various circuitous routes being meticulously planned, and the commitment to the cause is not lost on the boss, as he aims to end the most difficult of seasons with silverware.

‘I want this so bad’ Video

‘I want this so bad’

Ruben Amorim says he relishes the responsibility of leading United out in a major final…

“It’s hard,” Ruben told MUTV’s Mark Sullivan at Old Trafford, when previewing the big game. “It’s not enough, winning the Europa League. It’s not enough for all the support they [the fans gave us this season.

“With our fans, it’s not a surprise for me – they will go swimming if needed to, even without a ticket! I already know.

“A big thank you for everything they did during the season. We will do our best to give something to them.”

The tension is already starting to build ahead of a key clash that would not only land a European trophy but also earn a place in next season’s Champions League.

“We are fine,” reassured Ruben. “Preparing for the game. I think you can feel it in Carrington, we’re very excited with the final. It’s really important, massive for us, and we want to give that to our fans.

“I feel it’s a mixed feeling [for me]. I’m really excited but, at the same time, I know my responsibility as a Manchester United coach. I have always that feeling of frustration for the season, so I want really bad to help the team to win the final. We’ve got to give something to the club, to the fans, to the staff, to everybody.

The boss is not looking forward to telling any players they will miss out on the big occasion but appreciates it is a squad game, and everybody has played their part. The substitutes could, of course, end up having a huge impact in the 20:00 BST kick-off.

“I like the responsibility,” he added. “It’s my job and I’m quite comfortable with that. My job is to help the rest of the staff to cope with the excitement of the final, especially the players.

“Of course, it’s not a good thing for any player to hear that [being left out] but I’m quite comfortable with that, it’s my job.

“I think the problem we have in some games this season, we had a lot of players out from injury. So it doesn’t matter if you play one minute in the final. Of course, you want to play 90 minutes but the important thing is to win. If we win, all the players are going to win this final and they all played in the Europa League, so that is the most important thing.”

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MUTV will provide unrivalled build-up to the blockbuster occasion, starting with live training on Tuesday morning (11:00 BST) before the squad travels to Bilbao. You can watch analysis from the San Mames that evening, plus Ruben’s press conference, which will be conducted alongside two players. On matchday itself, we have four exclusive broadcasts from the city at 09:00, 12:00, 16:00 and 18:00 BST. Subscribe now to tune in, with live radio commentary of the game to follow, plus full match replays from midnight.

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