Ruben Amorim praised Bruno Fernandes’s hat-trick performance that swept Real Sociedad aside and took Manchester United into the Europa League quarter-finals, saying his side “needs to win titles” for the captain.
After Mikel Oyarzabal struck first via an early penalty, United dominated, Fernandes scoring two from the spot on 16 and 50 minutes, before a superb late strike to complete the hat-trick. Diogo Dalot’s added-time fourth sealed progress.
Related: Fernandes hat-trick powers electric Manchester United past Real Sociedad
The victory keeps United’s season alive and if they go on to claim the -trophy Amorim’s team will also qualify for next term’s Champions League.
United could still play Tottenham in the final of the competition after Ange Postecoglou’s side edged past AZ Alkmaar 3-2 on aggregate. Rangers also squeaked past José Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in a penalty shootout.
Of Fernandes, who now has 15 goals in all competitions this season, Amorim said: “We need to help him win titles because he deserves this. It is hard for a player like him sometimes – he wants to win really bad and sometimes too much. It is not a bad thing but sometimes he doesn’t trust his teammates but he is always there.
“He can play set pieces, score -penalties, make transitions and help in the last 15 minutes of the game. I am trying to help the team, not thinking about Bruno but the team [and] near the box he is so dangerous.”
United will face Lyon in the quarter-finals, with the first leg in France on 10 April before the return at Old Trafford a week later. Amorim was asked about Patrick Dorgu informing the referee, Benoît Bastien, that a late collision with Hamari Traoré was not a penalty. “It is the right thing to do so I am quite proud of him,” said the manager. “But I cannot say if it is 0-0 or losing I have the same response. He did well, he had a great performance. He is learning a lot in that position. He has the physicality.”
Amorim was asked how important the win was for the remainder of the season. He said: “The feeling – and you can feel the fans, the noise: it is hard to explain, you feel the confidence from the supporters, it was a really good night. The feeling is completely different, not just the result but the way we play. The good thing and the bad thing is after this game it is over and tomorrow we are going to think about Sunday [at Leicester City].
“It was a complete week [after drawing with Arsenal on Sunday]. We showed a little bit of the future, helped the problems of the present and had a good performance today.”
