Ruben Amorim says 'pressure is on' Manchester United to reach UEFA Europa League quarter-finals

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said that his side will be under "pressure" next week, when they face Real Sociedad in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League last-16 tie. The first leg saw United take the lead through Joshua Zirkzee, but a Mikel Oyarzabal equaliser left the visitors struggling to match the control of the game they had enjoyed for the earlier period.

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Ruben Amorim said that the "pressure is on" Manchester United ahead of their UEFA Europa League second leg with Real Sociedad next week.

United secured a 1-1 draw in Spain on Thursday, having taken a second-half lead through Joshua Zirkzee, before Bruno Fernandes conceded a penalty, converted by Mikel Oyarzabal in the 70th minute.

The visitors had impressed until that moment, but the remainder of the match saw them struggle to match their earlier efforts.

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Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Amorim said the equaliser had turned the match on its head.

He said: "No, I felt until the penalty that we had control of the game. Then I think, a little bit, the penalty changed the momentum."

The Portuguese put some of that change in momentum down to tiredness, with injuries giving United limited options from the bench.

Amorim continued: "I think our team in the last 30 minutes were really, really tired. You can feel that in the game.

"The momentum changed, but I think it was clearly fatigue. We were late on the ball, even on transitions. You feel that they were stronger in that 30 minutes.

"I think until the penalty we had good possession. Our decision[-making] in the last third is sometimes not the best, but we had some good moments in the game."

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Looking ahead to the second leg next week - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ -Amorim anticipated there would be an extra level of expectation when they play at Old Trafford.

First, though, they have to negotiate a Premier League match on Sunday against Arsenal.

"We take this stage to Old Trafford," he stated. "It's going to be a different game. The pressure is on us in that stadium.

"We have to be ready, the key will be surviving physically on Sunday, and be ready and fresh on Thursday."
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Thoughts?