Ruben Amorim believes that building for the future is now 'more important' for Manchester United at the moment than winning the Europa League.
The Red Devils are 14th in the Premier League and are beaten from the FA Cup, which means that the second level of the continent offers their only hope for silverware – and realistic European qualification.
The fifth defeat of United Round-Out against Fulham on Sunday increased the importance of the Europa League and the round of 16 first stage in Real Sociedad this Thursday.
“Of course we lost in the cup last week, so people watch this Europa League as the unique competition we can win,” head coach Amorim told Sky Sports.
'Also the connection with winning the Europa League with Champions League (following qualification).
'But to tell you the truth, I think we have bigger things to think about (about).
'I know it is strange to say that, but it is something that we are trying to build here, that will be more important than winning a cup at the moment.
“I know the responsibility that we have to fight for every trophy, but at the moment we are trying to build something that is going more than every trophy this season.”
Erik ten Hag won trophies in both full seasons, with a bad campaign that ended in a high with victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final of May, after Carabao Cup Glory in 2023.
The ultimate goal of United is to win the Premier League through their 150th birthday in 2028, which Amorim emphasized immediately after the defeat against Fulham – and was called 'Naive' by Wayne Rooney.
The Portuguese immediately hit back there and prior to the trip to Spain, there were big plans in a club that makes difficult cost -saving decisions, including the making of another 200 employees.
“I understand what people say, because if you look at how our team plays and the results, it is difficult to present your big things for our club at the moment,” said United Boss Amorim.
'But at the darkest moment we have to have a light in the path, and that is clear here.
'I am sure … I don't know if I will be here, but the way we think we will return and we will win in the future.
“But then it's the risk. We do a lot of things, we don't win games, and if you don't win games, you sometimes have to change people, and we know that.
'But as a club I think we do many things that are difficult to do. Many people in the staff pay that price, but we do the things we have to do to win in the future. '
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