Faced with the lack of a direct qualification for the Champions League via the Premier League, Manchester United faces Olympique Lyonnais this Thursday in a crucial match whose outcome will have considerable repercussions. Beyond the sporting issue, participation in a European competition, and more particularly in the prestigious Champions League, is of major economic importance for the club in the country. The new coach, Ruben Amorim, although waiting for this eventuality, stressed the complexity of the situation, particularly with regard to the performance of goaltender André Onana, whose performances were widely questioned as the quarter-final return approach.

The early elimination of the Premier League, having relegated Manchester United to 14th place, has already extinguished the qualifying hopes of the championship. The only remaining route to a European competition is the Europa League, thus offering an opportunity to win back. Ruben Amorim made it clear that participation in the Champions League is intimately linked to next season’s budget planning, allowing investment in a more competitive team. Nevertheless, the Portuguese also warned against the physical and mental requirements of playing on two fronts, stressing the urgent need to strengthen the team and allocate more time to training.

The ambivalence of Ruben Amorim’s speech, combining aspiration to the Champions League and recognition of the team’s current weaknesses, raises questions about Manchester United’s ability to meet the challenges of a European season. Although the club felt the obligation to participate in the most prestigious competition, the coach also acknowledged that the absence of this constraint would allow a more serene reconstruction and preparation, illustrating a paradoxical situation for a club of this size.