Ruben Amorim has Europa League glory in its sights after Manchester United FCSB defeated their place in the round of 16 and to secure invaluable time on the training field.
After opening the new look League phase with three stuttering draws under Erik ten Hag, the Red Devils ended with five straight victories – four of them under Amorim – to finish third from 36 teams.
United insured their place in the top eight when Kobbie Mainoo Diogo Dalot set up for the opening goal before the midfielder of England scored himself to complete a 2-0 win in Romania while making the group unbeaten.
No other team succeeded in doing that in the Champions League of Europa League, whereby the evolving side of Amorim under the favorites of Amorim underlines to lift the trophy in Bilbao in May.
“I don't see a big difference in the way we play, but today we had more time to think and now you can see some movements,” said the united head coach.
'The idea is because we have more time to play, to understand the game. I think we can go game by game and we can win.
'Then you have the responsibility, whatever happens, regardless of the context, you are in Manchester United, so you have to fight for winning trophies, so we will see.
“If you come to this phase of every competition, everything is possible and they can prove that they can win against everyone on a good day, so that we can think about it.”
The victory of United in Bucharest means that they skip next month's play-offs, with a last-16 game against Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, AZ Alkmaar or FC Midtjylland.
Amorim has long talked about his determination to prevent the play-offs to get time on the training pitch to work with a group he joined in November.
“That is real, very important to us,” said the United Boss.
'To have time to train, to connect between everyone – even the staff, everyone there in training, going to the field, know each other in the right environment.
“I think it's really important. Then you can have a week to prepare a game, so at the start of the week you can work your idea and then you have time to concentrate on the opponent and prepare the game in a better way .
“The players can rest, I can better understand my players.”
Amorim used the excellent display of the Mainoo match in a more advanced position as an example of the benefits of working with the group.
“We need time to understand the players,” he said. “He struggled a lot defensively as a midfielder.
'Now more than a 10, you can feel that he was so free, the ball played, near the box and near the box it is really good, the small connections.
“We need time to work with the players and to understand the best positions for them.”
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