Football – While it is hard for Manchester United to salvage a disappointing season, tomorrow’s Europa League final will go a long way in dictating the team’s future, with Champions League qualification on the line and boss Ruben Amorim in the hot seat.
The once-dominant United are languishing in 16th in the Premier League standings and so winning the Europa League in Bilbao against Tottenham Hotspur is their only route back into European football.
While a loss would be a massive blow to already-reeling United fans, it would also have a huge impact on the team’s bottom line with co-owner Jim Ratcliffe estimating the price on Champions League qualification is between 80 and 100 million pounds in broadcast, matchday and commercial income.
“Champions League can change everything,” Amorim told reporters recently. “If you look at this moment we are not ready to be really competitive in the Premier League and cope with Champions League. If you are in Champions League you have a different budget to put a better team for next season.”
Hoisting the Europa League trophy would be a reason to celebrate during an otherwise wretched season.
United’s 1-0 Premier League defeat by Chelsea on Friday was their 18th loss of the campaign, meaning they will go the entire league season without winning two consecutive games for the first time in club history.
Their 18 defeats are the most since losing 20 in 1973-74, the last season in which they were relegated from the top flight. They have also gone eight successive league games without a win.
The 40-year-old Amorim pointed to United’s ability to raise their game on the European stage.
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