Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd squad vs Lyon has now lost influential player who has vital European experience, it’s major blow

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Ruben Amorim will now be without one Manchester United star for the Red Devils’ crucial upcoming first-leg Europa League quarter-final match against Lyon.

Manchester United travel to France and will face Ligue 1 outfit Lyon at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday evening, with kick-off slated for 8pm UK time.

The Red Devils will host the French side in the return leg at Old Trafford on 17th April and a lot is now riding on the remainder of United’s Europa League campaign.

The Europa League offers Ruben Amorim the chance to sign off the season by lifting major silverware as United manager after his arrival from Sporting CP in 2024.

UEFA’s second-tier club competition is also United’s only real hope of securing a return to the Champions League for the 2025-26 season under Amorim.

United’s form in the Premier League has been shocking in the 2024-25 campaign and the Red Devils face the real threat of missing out on European football.

READ MORE: Ruben Amorim’s overlooked Man Utd star now has real chance to be difference-maker vs Lyon in crucial Europa League match

Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd plans can no longer include Matthijs de Ligt for Lyon match in the Europa League quarter-finals

Matthijs de Ligt has been out of action for the Red Devils since he picked up an ankle injury in Manchester United’s defeat to Nottingham Forest earlier this month.

Following United’s 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest at City Ground in the Premier League, Ruben Amorim was forced to shake up his backline for the City match.

Harry Maguire came in for the injured Matthijs de Ligt and United and City played out a forgettable 0-0 Premier League scoreline at Old Trafford on Sunday.

While Amorim can rely on Harry Maguire to play in the backline alongside Leny Yoro and Noussair Mazraoui, the Lyon match is the type of encounter where De Ligt was needed.

De Ligt has impressed at United since his arrival from Bayern Munich last summer and the 25-year-old Dutch defender has been a steady presence in the backline.

The United defender was the captain of Ajax during the Dutch side’s scintillating Champions League semi-final run in the 2018-19 campaign under Erik ten Hag.

De Ligt played under Erik ten Hag at Ajax and the United and Netherlands international has continued to impress at Old Trafford under Amorim.

The former Ajax skipper has had plenty of European experience to his name, including during his time at Serie A side Juventus and Bayern Munich.

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Ruben Amorim’s last major injury update for Matthijs de Ligt and Man Utd’s confirmation ahead of Europa League tie

Speaking ahead of United’s final Manchester derby clash of the campaign, Amorim admitted that he was unsure how long it would take for Matthijs de Ligt to recover.

“Matthijs has an injury, let’s see how long it is going to take,” Amorim told MUTV, as per the Manchester Evening News.

“We are going to put in Harry Maguire, who is really experienced.”

United manager Amorim has been dealt with a major blow ahead of the first-leg Europa League quarter-final tie after De Ligt was ruled out with an injury.

According to United’s official website, the Netherlands and Red Devils defender will not travel to France and he won’t be part of the 23-man squad for the Lyon match.