Ruben Amorim must make the major call to start one Manchester United star in the Red Devils’ important encounter with Ligue 1 outfit Lyon in the Europa League.
Manchester United travel to the Parc Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday evening for their first-leg Europa League quarter-final tie, with kick-off slated for 8pm UK time.
The Red Devils will then welcome French side Lyon to Old Trafford on 17th April for the return leg, with a place in the semi-finals hanging in the balance for United.
The Premier League club’s Europa League campaign remains Ruben Amorim’s last chance to secure major silverware as United manager in the 2024-25 season.
The Europa League is also United’s best hope of securing European football for the 2025-26 campaign, with Amorim’s men currently 13th in the Premier League table.
A triumph in the Europe League would open a route back to the Champions League, but the Red Devils face an uphill task in reaching the final in the first place.
United’s form has been inconsistent since Amorim’s arrival as Red Devils manager in 2024 and the the club have struggled to build regular momentum this season.
The Red Devils were in action on Sunday afternoon at Old Trafford and United and Manchester City played out a lacklustre 0-0 Premier League draw in the derby.
Ruben Amorim needs to take a risk with Man Utd ace Mason Mount vs Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals
Despite the underwhelming match between Manchester United and Manchester City, Ruben Amorim walked away from Old Trafford with a positive for Mason Mount.
Mason Mount made his return to United first-team action after the March international break and has picked up important minutes in cameo appearances.
The 26-year-old former Chelsea ace came off the bench for United in the 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest before a follow-up performance against City in the derby.
Mount chalked up more first-team minutes in Sunday’s 0-0 draw and the former England international once again showed shades of what he can do for United.
Amorim is a big fan of the United star and Mount’s season at Old Trafford has been disrupted by injuries, with the player reduced to only 14 matches in the campaign.
Mount, who has struggled to rediscover his scintillating Chelsea form at Old Trafford since his 2023 move, has worked well within Amorim’s tactical system at United.
Alejandro Garnacho has played as one of the two No 10s for United and the 20-year-old Spain-born winger showed promise against City in the final derby of the season.
However, Mount is better suited to start the match in one of the two No 10 roles and for Alejandro Garnacho to instead come off the bench to make an impact for United.
Ruben Amorim’s insight into Mason Mount’s role in his Man Utd system shows why he must start against Lyon in the Europa League
Speaking after United’s Premier League loss to Nottingham Forest, Amorim revealed that Mason Mount is the type of player that would thrive in his system.
“If you look at the history of Mason Mount, he played in this system many times, especially in Chelsea, he played left-hand, right-hand [side],” he said, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“So, I think it’s a very good position for him.”
The winner of United and Lyon in the quarter-finals will play either Athletic Bilbao or Rangers in the semi-finals of the Europa League competition.
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