Ruben Amorim has doubled down on his controversial claim that this is "the worst Manchester United team in history" despite being on the brink of a European final.
The United boss made the bold assertion in January when the club threatened to become embroiled in a relegation battle.
Despite holding a commanding 3-0 advantage over Athletic Bilbao in their Europa League semi-final, Amorim remains critical of his side's overall performance.
United's woeful Premier League form has seen them suffer 16 defeats in 35 games, leaving them 15th in the table.
Ruben Amorim doubled down on his controversial United claim
Reuters
This stands in stark contrast to their European campaign, where they remain unbeaten in 13 matches.
Their 3-0 win in Bilbao last week has put them on course for the Europa League final on May 21, with a potential return to the Champions League.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Amorim refused to backtrack on his assessment of United's season.
"I think you have to see the quote in the moment, so things can change. For me, in that moment, if you look at the Premier League I think since I arrived we are the worst team in terms of results," he said.
"At the end of the season we can be the worst team in Premier League history with a European title, so it will not change anything."
Despite their comfortable lead, Amorim believes United still need to score in the second leg to progress.
"I feel we need to score to go to the next round," he insisted ahead of Thursday's clash at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese manager highlighted his team's inconsistency, pointing to Sunday's 4-3 defeat at Brentford where they conceded multiple goals in quick succession.
Man United captain Bruno Fernandes scored a brace as they breezed past Bilbao in the first leg
PA"If you look at our season, anything is possible," Amorim warned.
Amorim admitted his team's tendency to lose focus during matches, saying: "Sometimes during the game we are one team and then we lose our mind a little bit."
He referenced the quarter-final against Lyon, where United surrendered a two-goal lead before Harry Maguire's injury-time winner.
"We will have to suffer a bit to go to the final, and we are ready to suffer," Amorim added.
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Athletic Bilbao will be without key players Nico and Inaki Williams for the second leg, while top scorer Oihan Sancet remains sidelined through injury.
However, Amorim dismissed any suggestion this would make the task easier for United.
"It doesn't matter. For us it is the top team of Athletic," he said. "We need to go to the game and try to win it."
Amorim also addressed Arsene Wenger's suggestion that UEFA should change rules allowing Europa League winners to qualify for the Champions League.
"I just know the rules. If people want to change the rules by all means but these are the rules, if you win Europa League you go to Champions League, so we follow the rules," he said.
A potential all-Premier League final could see either the 15th or 16th-placed team secure Champions League football.
