Manchester United Acknowledges Roy Keane's Criticism And Seeks Improvement Ahead Of Europa League Final

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Manchester United's recent performances have drawn criticism from former captain Roy Keane, a sentiment shared by Ruben Amorim. Despite a lacklustre season, United have a chance to secure silverware and Champions League qualification after defeating Athletic Bilbao 7-1 on aggregate in the Europa League semi-finals. They will face Tottenham in the final on May 21, both teams having had disappointing Premier League campaigns.

United's league form has been poor, with no wins in their last six matches. Keane described this as disgraceful. Ahead of their match against West Ham, who are just two points behind them, Amorim acknowledged the criticism. "We deserve it," he said. "If we cannot accept everything in this kind of season, I think we are in the wrong business."

Amorim plans to balance player protection with preparation for the Europa League final. He aims to ensure key players get enough game time while avoiding injuries. "Sometimes it's better to play," he noted, highlighting Bruno Fernandes' fitness and Harry Maguire's injury concerns. The focus remains on being competitive in the Premier League.

United's 16 Premier League losses this season are their most since finishing 13th in 1989-90. They last lost more games in a season during their relegation campaign in 1973-74. Amorim stressed the importance of using every match to improve and prepare for future challenges.

Amad Diallo has returned from injury at a crucial time for United. He impressed off the bench against Bilbao, although Mason Mount stole the spotlight with two goals. Diallo ranks first for possession won in the final third among players with over 1,000 Premier League minutes this season.

For West Ham, Jarrod Bowen has been instrumental since April, directly involved in five goals (three goals, two assists). Only Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak have contributed to a higher percentage of their team's goals than Bowen's 43% for West Ham this season.

Match Prediction and Statistics

Manchester United are favourites to win against West Ham, boasting an unbeaten record in their last 16 home games against them (W13 D3). However, West Ham have won three of their last four matches against United. They aim for their first league double over United since 2006-07.

United haven't won in six Premier League games (D2 L4), marking one of their longest winless runs since 1992. Meanwhile, West Ham are winless in eight league games (D4 L4), with only Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Southampton collecting fewer points since January.

The Opta win probability suggests a 50% chance for Manchester United to win, while West Ham have a 25.8% chance and a draw stands at 24.2%. Both teams will be eager to end their respective poor runs and secure valuable points as they approach the season's end.

As Manchester United prepare for upcoming challenges both domestically and internationally, they must address their current form issues while managing player fitness strategically. The upcoming matches will be crucial not only for immediate success but also for setting a positive tone moving forward into future competitions.