Ruben Amorim hands Man Utd Champions League reality check amid damning stat

Manchester United have struggled in front of goal in the Premier League so far this season but could easily have found themselves up against elite opposition in the Champions League

Ruben Amorim has admitted Manchester United would not have been competitive in the Champions League this season. Amorim endured a painful first seven months at Old Trafford, but a Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur provided a route into Europe’s elite competition.

But United were beaten 1-0 in a lacklustre final in Bilbao. They now go to League Two Grimsby on Wednesday in the second round of the Carabao Cup with Amorim saying his side are only capable of competing on domestic fronts this season.

“We were not prepared to play in Europe. That was my feeling,” said Amorim. “(We were not prepared) to play strong games in the Champions League and then play in the Premier League. “I said that last season. We need time to prepare every game.

“The games are really, really competitive and we need time to build the base, and then, in the future, to move forward. We will reach one moment where we will need to reach Europe for everybody to have more games.”

Despite investing £200million into signing Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, no United player has scored this season. After losing 1-0 to Arsenal in their opening match of the Premier League season, their goal in the 1-1 draw with Fulham was an own goal. Leny Yoro’s off-target header hit Fulham forward Rodrigo Muniz on its way into the net, moments after Bruno Fernandes skied a penalty kick.

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Amorim may be relieved his side are not playing European and Premier League football at the same time but it will certainly trouble his fringe players. He is inflexible with his 3-4-3 formation, which has left the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee on the outside.

The two United stars, as well as youngsters Ayden Heaven and Chido Obi, may expect to feature or even start at Blundell Park. When asked if he will make changes against the Mariners, Amorim said: “We have two games this week. We have quality players and we need rotation to try and win every game.

“We need time to develop as a team. So they need to just fight for their places and then everything can change. Sometimes one is playing and then in other moments other guys are going to play, and then we have the cups. There are going to be a lot of games for everybody.”

A small positive for the Reds is Noussair Mazraoui being close to a return. The Moroccan has been out with a thigh injury and has not featured since playing 45 minutes in United’s 1-1 pre-season draw with Leeds.

Amorim said: “Maybe he is going to return next week, we will see. But he is near. We are just finishing some drills with him to make sure he is not going to have another problem.”

United are at home to Burnley in the league on Saturday.

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