Manchester United must summon everything on Thursday evening against Real Sociedad in the last-chance saloon for success within this campaign for Ruben Amorim and his side.
Truthfully, it would be a conquest that would not define the overall era of the Portuguese manager. We expect this to come from challenging for league titles and bridging the gap between Manchester City and the rest of the pack.
But, Europa League success this season would make that task a lot easier financially, build the trust between fans and players, and solidify that bond that only winning trophies as a collective can create.
Sociedad may be experiencing domestic troubles, but they present an undeniably difficult task and have left an indelible mark in the North West.
Their previous victory at Old Trafford in Erik ten Hag’s first season came in controversial circumstances, and the result set up a last-32 clash with Real Betis before an ominous meeting with Sevilla.
Ultimately, The Old Trafford faithful don’t need reminding about how that two-legged tie finished up.
Trouble in the Basque Region
United are no stranger to sides from the region. The Reds faced the ultimate Basque team 13 years ago, filled with Basque-born-and-bred during an unusual foray in the then UEFA Cup under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Fergie’s side were bullied over two legs by a Marcelo Bielsa-led Bilbao, with Iker Munian running ragged at Old Trafford in a famous 3-2 defeat for the 13-time Premier League champions.
A repeat of that tomorrow night is equally likely, given the desperate form in Manchester this season. However, La Real have the joint second-lowest goals scored in La Liga this season, with only Getafe and Real Valladolid notching either the same or fewer than Imanol Aguacil’s side.
An issue United faces is that while they controlled large parts of the game in San Sebastian, they played a Sociedad side without the presence of one of the most sought-after midfielders on the planet, Martin Zubimendi.
The Spaniard, born in the beautiful Basque region and enamoured by the mountains, was previously pursued by Liverpool and Arsenal in the summer and exudes a sense of class and style befitting the area.
The Spanish job
When tallying United’s luck against Spanish opposition over the last decade, they have locked horns on six occasions in knockout competitions at European level and lost six times – including the soul-destroying penalty defeat to Villarreal back in 2021.
Sevilla have prevailed over United in the Champions League and Europa League more than any other side since 2012. Spain is heaven for many but has been hell for the Red Devils.
United’s midfield looked weary late on against Arsenal, losing Declan Rice for the equalising goal. But they may be strengthened by the return of Manuel Ugarte, whose energy was also sorely missed for the encounter in Spain last week.
Amorim has undeniable trust in Ugarte, whom he coached at Sporting, and the Uruguayan has continued to repay the faith with an array of impressive and energetic performances, most recently saving the team from defeat against Everton with a beautiful goal from outside the box.
Not the be-all for Ruben Amorim
Thursday’s outing, while hugely important for recruitment next season, is not a barometer of whether Amorim will be successful at United in the long run.
Failure to progress past La Real will not change INEOS’s plans, and there is a belief that Amorim has been working with one hand tied behind his back with injuries to key players, including Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, and Kobbie Mainoo.
Naturally, once the Portuguese tactician lands his stamp on the squad and has a full pre-season under his belt, the only trajectory is up for the Reds.
He is strict in his beliefs about his philosophy, and we are witnessing signs that his system could propel United back to the promised land, albeit in short bursts.
The second half against Arsenal was an example, in part, of how the system can work, particularly with Noussair Mazraoui’s chance that was saved brilliantly by David Raya. But, Amorim conceded that the low block United deployed cannot shake it for a prolonged period at a top-level club.
The task for the 40-year-old is carrying United to the next step, dominating games from start to finish. It’s a task no United manager post-Fergie has been able to overcome. However, with INEOS planning for Amorim to be here when the new stadium arrives, many believe he is the man to break that curse.
Those close to Sporting maintained that there would be a transitional period upon arrival but rubberstamped home the belief that he must be allowed time to implement his methods. Many have also prefaced that if given the required time, he would definitely win a title as Manchester United manager.
Words mean little, and actions speak louder, but it would be nice to put some smiles on faces around the club again, wouldn’t it?
How do you feel ahead of the latest meeting between Manchester United and Real Sociedad? Let us know in the comments or across our social channels.
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