Manchester United will draw their disastrous season to a close on Sunday when they host Aston Villa at Old Trafford, guaranteed to finish the season in their lowest league position for 50 years and having seen their European salvation end in defeat to Spurs
Ruben Amorim will use his end-of-season address to Manchester United’s fans to apologise for the club’s season from hell.
United, who will finish in their lowest league position for 50 years after losing 18 times in 37 games, saw their hopes of salvation through Champions League qualification ended by a Europa League Final defeat by Tottenham on Wednesday night that dealt a devastating £100million blow to their plans of financing a summer rebuild.
The Portuguese coach will tell his players that they are obliged to perform the traditional lap of appreciation after the final game of the campaign against Aston Villa at Old Trafford. And Amorim is prepared to tell the supporters that he is sorry for being unable to halt United’s slide towards oblivion.
Asked what he will say to the fans, Amorim said: “An apology. I think it is clear that (to give) an explanation you don’t have time.
“So we will try to be honest. I think I will be honest with the fans and I will say what is in my mind and what is in my heart. We will do (the lap), as it’s tradition – and we have to face it.
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“I think it will be the biggest mistake if we don’t do that. We will do that.
“I know that the manager addresses the public. I will do that because it’s the minimum. The least I can do is to talk with the fans and say what I want to say.
“I will decide tomorrow what I will say, but I have an idea. We will do that because, if there is a season that we need to do it, it’s this one – and of course we will be there.”
United are 16th in the table ahead of the visit of a Villa team chasing a victory that would give them hope of a top-five finish and qualification for the Champions League.
A defeat, coupled with Spurs taking a point against Brighton, would see them finish just one place above the relegation zone.
It could be the last time many of Amorim’s players wear a United shirt, but he added: “The squad is going to be the squad to win the game. There’s a fight and we are hurting after this season, but there’s still competition in this league for the Champions League, and we have to respect the competition.
“We will be there with a strong team to win the game.”
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