Manchester United: Ruben Amorim explains Bruno Fernandes sub against Chelsea with injury update | OneFootball

United boss named a strong side at Stamford Bridge despite Europa League final coming up in just five days

Ruben Amorim confirmed Manchester United did not pick up any fresh injury issues in their defeat to Chelsea.

With the league campaign having been a write-off for several months now, United’s priority is the Europa League final against Tottenham on Wednesday night, when they can secure Champions League football next season.

Mason Mount and Casemiro came off a minute before Chelsea opened the scoring in the second-half, and Fernandes and Luke Shaw were then also withdrawn before the end of the match, with Amorim confirming those decisions were to “protect them for the final” rather than enforced by injury concerns.

"We have to prepare for each competition, with five days, we can rest,” Amorim said.

“We have five days to prepare [for the Europa League final], two days to fully recover and then two days to prepare.

"In the end I looked at all the players and I think they are ok.”

On his decision to start so many of his first-team players, the United boss added: "We have to deal with a lot of things in the summer, but today it was a really good game to prepare for the final.

“If we put some players out in the feeling of the last game, almost 10 days without playing, it would be a mistake.”

Rasmus Hojlund played the full 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge but once again failed to have an impact. The striker did not register a single shot in the match.

With Joshua Zirkzee out injured, Amorim has little choice but to play Hojlund in Bilbao against Spurs, with a change of system appearing unlikely.

"I'm happy,” Amorim said when asked about Hojlund’s performance.

“All the team has to improve. But the way he runs, he fights for every ball. Loses a lot of duels, wins some duels. He needs to improve the connection, but he's improving. He just needs to continue to work hard and better days will come."