Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim believes his team will benefit from not playing in European competitions this season, insisting the extra time will help his squad develop.
United, who finished 15th in the Premier League and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham, will miss out on European football for only the second time since English clubs returned to UEFA competitions in 1990.
Their absence means they must begin their Carabao Cup journey earlier than usual, facing League Two side Grimsby Town on Wednesday in their first meeting since 1948.
“We were not prepared to play in Europe and the Premier League,” Amorim admitted. “We need time to develop as a team.”
United last entered the competition at this stage in 2014, when they suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat to then League One side MK Dons, featuring a teenage Dele Alli.
Keen to avoid a repeat, Amorim has signaled squad rotation, with Andre Onana, Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, Manuel Ugarte, and Joshua Zirkzee all in contention for more minutes.
Injured defender Noussair Mazraoui is close to a return but may not feature, while striker Rasmus Hojlund is unlikely to play amid ongoing loan negotiations with Serie A champions Napoli.
Meanwhile, Antony, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, and Tyrell Malacia remain part of Amorim’s “bomb squad” of unwanted players.
United have taken just one point from their opening two league fixtures, increasing the importance of a strong Carabao Cup campaign, as victory would provide a backdoor route to European qualification.
“We need time to build a base and then, in the future, to move forward,” Amorim said. “We will reach a moment where we need to have Europe so everybody can play games.”