Real Sociedad’s manager, Imanol Alguacil, has stated that Manchester United are the clear favorites to advance from their Europa League last-16 matchup, which is set to take place on Thursday evening at the Reale Arena.
Following their exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Fulham on Sunday, the Europa League represents Manchester United’s final opportunity to salvage a disappointing season.
The team secured automatic progression to the knockout stages of the tournament at the end of January, having achieved five victories and three draws in their eight group stage matches, ultimately finishing in third place.
With their recent FA Cup elimination and only one win in the Premier League since then, there is significant pressure on United to clinch the Europa League title, which would provide both a trophy and a pathway to Champions League qualification for the upcoming season.
Despite traveling to Spain with a squad of only 18 players due to an ongoing injury crisis, Alguacil maintains that United are the favorites to win both the tie and the tournament, praising them as a “great team with a great coach.”
“They are a distinguished team in Europe, with a rich history, and the opportunity to compete against them in recent years is a positive experience,” Alguacil remarked to the media. “They possess a strong squad and an excellent coach.
“While their league results may not reflect their potential, their style of play remains commendable. I anticipate a challenging match against a formidable opponent—not solely due to their history, but because of the quality of their players. It will be a tough contest, and we must give our all to compete effectively.
“If anyone considers us the favorites, they do not understand football and the challenge that lies ahead. Despite their injury issues, they have exceptional players, and I will not show any disrespect to a team of this caliber.”
Sociedad approaches the upcoming match against United following recent losses to Real Madrid (0-1) and Barcelona (0-4). Nevertheless, Alguacil is eager to seize the chance to challenge the Premier League team.
He expressed, “I hope we all enjoy the match tomorrow and witness an exceptional game. It is essential for the fans to understand the challenge that lies ahead of us.
“These are the nights we aspire to experience. With their support, everything will become more manageable. I hope we can perform as we did last Wednesday.
“Despite their status as favorites to win the tournament, I believe that when facing a formidable opponent, if we execute our strategy effectively, victory is attainable. Otherwise, I would not be in this position.
“We must be prudent and acknowledge the challenge before us. It is crucial to engage in the match. However, even if we do not play at our best, we can still lose due to their inherent quality.”