Ruben Amorim expects ‘fight’ among players for Europa League final place

Ruben Amorim expects Manchester United’s training sessions to be intense as his players compete for a place in the Europa League final against Tottenham.

United face Spurs at San Mamés in Bilbao on Wednesday week after a 7-1 aggregate victory against Athletic Bilbao. In three meetings with Spurs this season, including one in the Carabao Cup, they have been beaten three times.

The manager’s introduction of Luke Shaw, Amad Diallo and Mason Mount in the 62nd minute of Thursday’s second leg against Athletic changed the game, Mount scoring twice and Diallo creating a goal for Rasmus Højlund as United came from 1-0 down to win 4-1.

Mount returned from a long-term hamstring injury last month, Diallo came back last week after a serious ankle problem and, with Matthijs de Ligt expected to be available after West Ham’s visit on Sunday after a muscle strain, Amorim could have a near full-strength squad for the final. He was asked whether there would be a dog-eat-dog mentality in the competition for a starting berth to face Spurs.

“Of course, they will fight for the places,” he said. “They will be ready, excited. And that is the good thing, not just the final, but also to prepare the games of the Premier League, with something in our mind that we can win. It’s going to be massive.”

Amorim said he would avoid taking risks with players such as Mount, De Ligt and Diogo Dalot, who is working back from a calf injury, but insisted he would not temper training to make sure it is not too fierce. “I don’t have that in me,” he said. “I will always push forward, but of course I will try to manage everything. They don’t need a lot of load now, so the training is going to be soft in that department. But of course they will push each other.”

United’s last game before the final is next Friday’s trip to Chelsea. Amorim was asked whether he may rest key players such as Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire. “I will protect the players that can get an injury,” he said. “Bruno doesn’t have the problem of [potential injury] but Harry has. So we will have to manage that, but [overall] they [all] have to play. And it’s better to play than to stay out.”