Ruben Amorim has warned his Manchester United stars that they are playing for their places in the Europa League final next week against Tottenham in Bilbao.
United stands for their penultimate Premier League match of the season in Chelsea on Friday, five days before they met Spurs on the San Mames.
Amorim has told his players that he should not read too much in his team selection at Stamford Bridge and insists that places in the final are still for the taking.
“Yes, that's clear,” said the United Boss. 'I know I already think the beginning of 11 I think for Chelsea and then I will see it. Even the way we play against Chelsea there is important for the next.
“We have time to recover. It is best to prepare for the final to play the game, and then the players must understand whether you are playing or not playing against Chelsea, it means nothing for the final – that is important.
“I'm just preparing Chelsea's game. That is my focus and we want to perform to win. '
It is unlikely that Amorim Diogo Dalot and Matthijs de Ligt risks while they recover from injury, and will be careful that Mason Mount and Luke Shaw will not push too hard.
However, he does not want his players to be distracted by the final or any concern about picking up an injury.
“Again, it will be a huge part, this game for the next, so we have to perform and they have to perform, that's an important thing,” he added.
'If a player can get an injury, it is not recovered for this game or can be a risk for the final, he will not play.
“But if it's not that situation, he will have a lot of time to recover and we can't spend eight or nine days without a game, that's a bad thing for the final.”
Leny Yoro is a doubt for the final after he had levied against West Ham on Sunday with a foot injury that is thought to be linked to the broken midfoot that held him out of operation for four months after a summer movement of £ 52 million from Lille.
De Ligt has not played anymore since he hurt his knee in the defeat in Brentford earlier this month, and with Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans, Amorim wanted to consider leaving as free agents.
“I even thought of the next year, the team. If we need another man if it is a long injury, that is my concern, “he said.
“It's not just about the final. I want every player to fit. Leny Yoro is his foot. He had that problem and I was so worried about next season, the next team, the way we build the team. That was my greatest concern. The rest is ready for the final, whatever happens. '
When Yoro went against West Ham, Amorim immediately left Shaw to protect a player who recently returned from a long -term dismissal with hamstring problems.
“Yes, it was clear that we cannot take a risk of different players, especially in that kind of position,” he confirmed. “It's the (injury) history. Not what it will be, it's history.
'Then we have to manage the minutes, such as Mason Mount. Mount is ready, but we try to build these guys a little longer to cope, and then they will be ready. '