Manchester United start to see progress off the pitch under Ruben Amorim in Plzen

There is progress away from the matches under the new Manchester United head coach. Ruben Amorim's press conference started 20 minutes earlier than scheduled at the Doosan Arena.

United were also bang on schedule for their 10.15am training session at Carrington on Wednesday morning. Erik ten Hag memorably dropped Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford for their tardiness during his first season but the former United manager's own timekeeping became worse than the White Rabbit's. Both European away press conferences in Porto and Istanbul this season began at gone 9pm and 9.38pm local time.

The last time United won away from home in Europe was at Real Betis in March 2023. The League Cup was a new attraction in the Old Trafford museum less than three weeks on from winning at Wembley and United had were in the round-of-16 of the Europa League by overcoming Barcelona over two pulsating ties.

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Amorim is desperate to avoid a two-legged play off in February. The top eight teams in the Europa League automatically go through to the last 16 yet those who finish between ninth and 24th will have a two-legged knockout in February. In 2023, United played eight games in 26 days in February.

"I already knew it," Amorim said of United's away record. "You guys ask but I respond. I already knew it’s a big job, we have a long way to go.

"It’s really important to win away, even in the league. We know that it’s really tough to win away in our league, we are Manchester United and we have to improve on that also winning at home because we lost the last game.