Amorim says Man Utd 'don't need a big squad' with no Champions league games

Manchester United will look to strengthen their squad this summer, but with no Champions League football next season, manager Ruben Amorim insists there’s no need for a large squad.

United endured their worst-ever Premier League season, finishing 15th and losing 18 matches, and their Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur means they will not play in any European competition in the coming campaign.

With fewer fixtures ahead, Amorim, who is keen to sign Wolves forward Matheus Cunha, wants to operate with a smaller, more manageable group.

“We always prepare two plans,” said the Portuguese coach as United kicked off their preseason tour of Malaysia and Hong Kong.

“With and without the Champions League. Without the Champions League, we also don’t need a big squad. We can control the squad in a better way. Then we have a plan, that is to bring in some new players, but our big plan is to improve the team we have, to improve the Academy.

"It was the past, so it can be the future. It can’t change much because of Financial Fair Play, we are not allowed to do much, even with the Champions League, so we are prepared.”

Reflecting on last season, which he called “disastrous,” Amorim is eager to move forward. “It was important to finish the season, we needed to close that chapter,” he said.

“It’s not fully behind us because I have one row of English journalists waiting for the hard questions, so I will rest from that when we finish the tour.

"To tell you the truth, I closed that chapter, I’m excited, I’m nervous, I want to work to the next season, I don’t have that feeling that I need to disconnect, I had the feeling to close the season, but now it’s a new season, so I am excited at the same moment. So, I don’t need rest, I just need to prepare for the next season.”

Amorim acknowledged that challenges remain but sees reason for optimism. “It’s important to stick together. We are going to struggle, it’s not going to be everything right away, but I can see the team improving and that’s the most important thing. Our target, I will not tell you now.

"If you want a target, it is to win the first game, then we will see. We have a lot to do during this summer, we have to prepare the team.

"Again, when you are in Man Utd, people are going to expect us to be on the top, but we have to understand the context, so I do not want the team to think of a big target, just the small target of winning the first game, then we pass to the second game.”

He also suggested that missing out on Europe could be a blessing in disguise as he looks to build a tighter-knit squad, reported Sky Sports.

“I have to say that for us not to be in the Champions League could be an advantage to perform well, to perform better the games, to build that core that we need for the future. So, it is a good thing for us to take advantage of not having European games.”

Amorim also stressed the importance of keeping Bruno Fernandes at United amid speculation about his future.

“You can see by the performance, the leadership, the passion he has for the games. So it is really important, especially in these kind of moments. You could see that in the last game.

"I felt that the team was without pressure; they performed quite well and everybody wanted the ball. The team has different moments and in different moments, Bruno [Fernandes] is the one who really wants to take responsibility. He should be because he is the captain, so he’s really important for us and really important for what we want to build with this team.”