'Far from quitting', Ruben Amorim dismisses speculation on Man United exit

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on Wednesday said that he has no plans to walk away from the club and added that he has a clear vision for the team's future. 

"I have a clear idea what to do, I understand the problems of the team, so I'm far from quitting," he said during a media briefing ahead of the team's Europa League final clash against Tottenham Hotspur on May 22. 

"What I'm saying is since I arrived here, I'm always talking about the standards and I cannot see the team having these results, especially in the Premier League, and not say nothing and not take the responsibility," he said. 

Amorim has come under intense scrutiny following a string of poor performances in the English Premier League, with a 2-0 defeat to West Ham United on Sunday, piling on the misery. Manchester United currently sit 16th in the Premier League table with 39 points, further diminishing their hopes of directly qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

United’s only hope of qualifying for the Champions League rests on winning the Europa League final held in Bilbao, as a victory would secure them a spot in Europe's top club competition regardless of their Premier League standing. 

But United have a separate set of worries ahead of the final clash against their Premier League rivals in the form of injuries. Defenders Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, and Ayden Heaven have sustained injuries and are doubtful for the final.

"I don't know if they are going to be available. We are going to try and push because it's the final matches and this is a final, you know that.  All the players want to play that really bad. I don't know, I think they will not go to Chelsea, but we will have a possibility to have some of them for the final," he said, referring to their league game against Chelsea on Friday. 

Amorim also spoke about his offer to cover the expenses for United’s backroom staff to take their families to Bilbao next week, after the club informed them that coaches, physiotherapists, and support staff would have to pay for the tickets themselves.

"In this moment, for our club, sometimes it's hard to understand when to give, when to take, to respect the people we are taking their jobs in certain moments to survive and to rebuild," he said adding that "it's hard and it's complicated for the club" to start giving to other members of staff, so it's a really hard position." 

"Then, that situation was explained and in that moment my reaction was to help because it's not going to change my life. To help the staff be there and to be comfortable, to be better staff for the final. Then, they talk to the players and the players had the same reaction. Everybody wants the staff there the families there," Amorim said.