Anticipation for the Europa League final is ramping up for Manchester United, with less than a week remaining until the clash in Bilbao.
European finals are always a momentous occasion and next Wednesday will be no different.
Winning the Europa League is key for Manchester United, as it will secure Champions League football and the massive financial packages which comes with this, worth at the very least £70m.
It will be an all English Europa League final, and it sees Ruben Amorim has been preparing for a third clash with Tottenham, in which Spurs have came out on top twice.
However, United have an advantage with Amorim boasting a strong record in finals at Sporting CP with four wins and three defeats. There is also an advantage as Amorim claimed United will step up for the final of the Europa League.
In the final, it could be a former Spurs icon who does the damage.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Christian Eriksen could prove vital for Ruben Amorim in Europa League final
In the build up to the game, Neville has admitted he feels sickly about the Europa League final, with Spurs’ team vastly superior on paper to United’s.
Where United do have an advantage in personnel is in experience, with Casemiro likely to be pivotal for Amorim’s chances. United boast players with the ability to change the game in an instant, and Christian Eriksen is another example of this.
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He won’t be in the starting line-up, but against his former club, Eriksen could be a gamechanger from the bench. Eriksen made 305 appearances for Spurs, not winning a single trophy, yet in 106 games for the Red Devils he has won two already.
Eriksen is 33 years old, yet has still been effective when used this season. Most memorably, Eriksen provided a phenomenal assist for one of Amad Diallo’s three goals against Southampton.
If United are chasing goals in the final, Amorim will probably turn to Eriksen for his creativity and set-pieces, which could see him spoil Tottenham’s dreams, six years on from when he lost the Champions League final with the North London outfit.
Due to his history, it would be very painful for Spurs fans to see Eriksen hoisting the Europa League trophy above his head in celebration.
Christian Eriksen’s Manchester United contract expiring
If Eriksen does get off the bench and make an impact, it would be his ultimate impact on United, with his contract set to expire at the end of June.
Eriksen joined United for free in 2022, signing a three year deal which has saw him earn roughly £150,000-a-week while play a bit-part role since mid-season of 2022/23.
Despite his age, Eriksen is technically still among the best at the club which makes him a player who is capable of making the difference.
The latest rumours around Eriksen’s future is that he will be released, according to The Times, before looking for a new club which offers him a route into coaching, with Ajax named.