Ruben Amorim is preparing for the biggest match of his Manchester United tenure as the Red Devils take on Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final. With less than 24 hours until kickoff, the Portuguese coach has received a significant boost as three key players have recovered from injury and are available for selection.
The Europa League represents United’s final opportunity to secure silverware this season—and more importantly, a route into next season’s UEFA Champions League. Failing to qualify would be a major sporting and financial setback. With that in mind, the return of several starters could prove decisive.
Leny Yoro, Diogo Dalot, and Joshua Zirkzee have all been cleared to return and participated in full training at Carrington on Tuesday morning. All three are expected to be included in the squad traveling to Bilbao for the final at San Mames Stadium.
Amorim addressed their recoveries in Tuesday’s pre-match press conference with a lighthearted tone. “They recovered quite well, they pushed (for it). Of course we respect the feeling but they pushed a little bit because they wanted to be part of the team, and that is a very good sign,” said Amorim in the pre-match press conference
He then made a final statement, setting the importance of the players’ availability: “It’s very good for us. Of course they’re limited in the minutes for the game, but they can help us to win it,” Amorim ended.
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While Amorim confirmed that Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt will not be available, the return of Zirkzee, Yoro, and Dalot gives the manager much-needed depth—especially with limited attacking options from the bench. Youngster Chido Obi Martin is not registered for the Europa League squad, leaving Rasmus Hojlund as United’s only recognized striker. With Zirkzee available again, Amorim now has a valuable alternative as he looks to outmaneuver Spurs in a high-stakes final.
United’s secret weapon: Casemiro’s European final streak
Both Manchester United and Tottenham have defied expectations to reach the Europa League final, particularly after disappointing domestic seasons. United currently sits 16th in the Premier League table, while Spurs are just one spot below in 17th. With both sides struggling for form, predicting a favorite is difficult—but United may have a hidden edge.
Veteran midfielder Casemiro will feature in the final, and he brings with him an unmatched European pedigree. The Brazilian has appeared in 11 European finals during his time with Real Madrid—and won every single one. Now, he’ll look to extend that perfect record in European finals as he leads Manchester United into their biggest match of the season.
