Amorim felt duty to pay for staff families' final trips

Ruben Amorim says he stumped up for the backroom staff's families to attend the Europa League final as he felt a duty to help during a difficult time at Manchester United.

Jim Ratcliffe has tightened things financially since becoming minority owner at the start of last year, with last summer’s round of redundancies being followed by a further 200 job cuts.

United’s cost-cutting measures continue, with players only receiving two free tickets, along with return flights, for next Wednesday’s Europa League final against Tottenham.

Backroom staff have been asked to pay for the pair of tickets on offer to them, with Amorim confirming he stepped in to cover those ticket costs.

"To start with that, the situation is simple," the United head coach said. "You know that we had a lot of things – people leaving, a lot of changing in the staff – and in this moment for our club sometimes it’s hard to understand when to give, when to take.

"To respect the people that we are taking their jobs in certain moments to survive and rebuild.

"And it is complicated for the club to start giving to other members of staff, so it’s a really hard position.

"That situation was explained and in that moment my reaction was to help because it is not going to change my life, and to help the staff be there and comfortable, to be a better staff for the final.

"Then they talk to the players and the players had the same reaction, so everybody wants the staff there, the families there, but it’s hard to manage things in our club, so it’s a simple thing."

Amorim says there is no chance he will quit Manchester United anytime soon and admitted Champions League qualification is more important to him than lifting the trophy.

But the under-fire head coach acknowledged returning to European football's top table could be a poisoned chalice given the time needed to transform the stuttering side.

Both sides' seasons can be salvaged somewhat, with the victor earning silverware and a spot in the Champions League despite poor Premier League campaigns.

The Red Devils sit 16th, just a point and a spot above Spurs, after Sunday’s embarrassing 2-0 home loss to West Ham, which led raging Amorim to cast doubt over his future should "brave" summer moves fail.

"What I’m saying is that since I arrived here I’m always talking about the standards," the head coach said when pushed on those post-match remarks.

"I cannot see the team having these results, especially in the Premier League, and not say nothing and not take the responsibility. It’s just that.

"I have a clear idea what to do. I understand the problems of the team, so I’m far from quitting.

"What I’m saying is that we need to perform and we have this season, and in the future we need to perform or else they will change us. That is a normal thing."

Before the trip to Bilbao comes Friday’s Premier League match at Chelsea, who are pushing to earn Champions League qualification with a top-five finish.

United will also be in the competition if they win the Europa League at San Mames, where a first European defeat of the campaign would mean a first season without continental football since 2014-15.

Asked whether silverware or Champions League qualification is more important to him, Amorim said: "Personally, for me, I think Champions League is more important for everything, to prepare the next season.

"And we are supposed to be in Champions League, and Europa League here is not enough, and you have that feeling here.

"The best way to help us to get in the top in a few years is Champions League. It’s not the title, it’s not the cup."

But Amorim admitted qualification would be a double-edged sword given it would stop him getting "more time with the team".

"We need to arrange a lot of things in Carrington," he said. "That we need more time to do, so we’re not thinking game by game by game, and then you have the squad.

"We proved this year that we need to be a better squad if we want to win European games and then to be really competitive during the Premier League. That is going to be tough. My feeling is that."

Put to him missing out on Champions League football is not all bad, Amorim said: "It is going to be really bad. I don’t want to use that as an excuse.

"It is going to be really tough, and the patience of the fans and you guys (in the media) next year if we don’t win it is going to be on the limit and we have to be perfect to continue with everything. I know that, so it’s not going to be better in that way."

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