Ruben Amorim explains why the Europa League is ‘so much harder’ than the Champions League after Man United’s draw with Real Sociedad
Ruben Amorim has insisted the Europa League is ‘so much harder’ than the Champions League.
United are bidding to win Europe’s second rate competition this season, which would see them qualify for the Champions League next season – something they are not going to do via league position.
After making it through the league phase unbeaten, the Red Devils drew 1-1 with Spanish side Real Sociedad on Thursday night in the first leg of their last-16 clash.
They must therefore win the return leg at Old Trafford next week if they are to progress to the quarter-finals, but first have a Premier League match against Arsenal on Sunday to contend with.
Amorim was speaking ahead of the match, for which his side had three days to prepare for rather than Arsenal’s five after they beat PSV 7-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
And that, according to the United boss, is what makes the Champions League easier.
Ruben Amorim has explained why the Europa League is ‘so much harder’ than Europa League
United drew 1-1 with Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Last 16 clash in the Europa League
They will take on Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal – who played on Tuesday – in the league this weekend
‘I think the biggest problem is to not have all of the players because, in the beginning, people talk about our rotation – especially in Europe, we are changing all the time,’ he began. ‘It’s because of this, because it’s really hard, and the Europa League is so much harder, in my opinion, than the Champions League.
‘Not the games but the recovery to play Premier League on the weekend, so we have to deal with that.’
Arsenal put seven past their Dutch opponents thanks to strikes from six different players, just days after they had failed to score for a second consecutive Premier League match.
Had they played on Wednesday, they still would have had an extra day to prepare, with Europa League games almost exclusively on Thursdays.
Teams who play in the Champions League on Wednesdays can play on Saturdays, meaning they have three days to prepare for games – the same as Europa League sides who play in the Premier League on Sundays.
This weekend, United, Chelsea and Tottenham will all play on Sunday due to their involvement in the Europa League and Conference League this week.
United are currently 14th in the Premier League table, but could slip to as low as 16th if results go against them this weekend.
