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Topics: Champions League, Darren Fletcher, Football, Kobbie Mainoo, Manchester United, Premier League, Ruben Amorim
Ben McAleer
Topics: Champions League, Darren Fletcher, Football, Kobbie Mainoo, Manchester United, Premier League, Ruben Amorim
The Manchester United squad has been informed of their new season target following Ruben Amorim’s exit last week.
Amorim departed Old Trafford after 14 months in charge following their 1-1 draw with Leeds last weekend.
Darren Fletcher took interim charge of the Manchester giants for the midweek 2-2 draw with Burnley, and oversees proceedings for Sunday’s all-Premier League FA Cup third-round tie with Brighton.
Fletcher, former midfielder Michael Carrick and ex-boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are all in the running to continue as United boss until the end of the season, when the Premier League powerhouse will make a permanent appointment.
However, director of football Jason Wilcox, who was at loggerheads with Amorim, has informed the United first team that qualification for the Champions League is the target for the rest of the campaign.
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United’s Europa League loss to Tottenham in May combined with their 15th-placed finish saw the Premier League outfit miss out on European football this season.
A Champions League spot is well within United’s grasp, with their midweek draw with Burnley leaving them joint-sixth with 32 points, one point behind fifth-placed Brentford.
A top-five finish is expected to be enough to secure a place in Europe’s elite club competition next season.
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And a source close to the club suggests that Wilcox has issued a rallying cry following Amorim’s exit, stating: “Wilcox has spoken with the players in the wake of Amorim’s departure.
“He’s explained that the season has had some disappointments so far, but urged the players to come together and try and sustain some good form in the second half of the season.
“Qualifying for the Champions League is the target and it’s attainable. That was the message.”
Amorim’s role as United boss had been under pressure since the 4-4 draw with Bournemouth last month as a source said: “Amorim seemed to be affected by that result and the atmosphere changed on the training ground.
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“He had a different outlook which some of the players noticed. It felt like the beginning of the end.”
One player looking for assurances for the second half of the season is midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who found game time hard to come by under Amorim.
Mainoo had hoped to secure regular minutes for the second half of the season as he looks to force his way back into the England squad.
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The 20-year-old has been expected to leave Old Trafford this month, with Napoli interested in the youngster, but Amorim’s departure has complicated a potential exit.
“Kobbie was frustrated under Amorim because he felt like he broke into the first team and gained a lot of success playing one way,” a source close to the squad said.
“Then suddenly Amorim started telling him he needed to play in a completely different way, which wasn’t to his strengths.
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“Amorim leaving definitely increases the chances of Kobbie staying at United. But it’s not a given.
“He wants assurances from officials about how they see him fitting into the squad and the first team.”
United return to league duties next weekend when they take on rivals Manchester City as they look to improve upon a record of three wins from their last 12 league games to boost their Champions League chances.