It’s been a remarkable run to the Europa League final for Manchester United. From going winless in their first three matches, Harry Maguire’s heroics against Lyon and the thumping 7-1 aggregate victory over Athletic Club in the semi-final.
But the Red Devils wouldn’t have even been in the competition if it wasn’t for a drunken mistake from their Manchester City counterparts.
Rewind 12 months to when City were actually pretty good. Pep Guardiola’s side had just fended off title challengers Arsenal to record yet another 90-plus point Premier League title victory. It marked an unprecedented fourth title in a row, with the City players keen to celebrate their achievement… perhaps a little too hard.
Less than a week after they wrapped up the league title with a victory over West Ham United, the Blues came up against rivals United in the season’s FA Cup final - the team they’d beaten in the Wembley showpiece a year earlier.
Unlike the season before, United refused to let City get the better of them, with the 20-time English champions coming out unlikely 2-1 victors. As well as reclaiming the Mancunian bragging rights, it also granted United a last-gasp spot in this season’s Europa League, given the side then managed by Erik ten Hag had finished way outside the qualification spots via the league.
It wasn’t until months later, when Ten Hag was on the brink of being sacked by the United board, that Guardiola revealed his players were “hungover” for the 2024 FA Cup final. Explaining his side’s defeat that day, he said: "This is the news, not that we lose, but how long it has been since we lose. Of course, with the FA Cup final we were a little bit hungover, but it is good news."
But by that point, it was too late, as the chain reaction had already been set off. United have so far gone unbeaten in the Europa League and are now just one match away from glory - a win that would grant them entry into the Champions League next season.
As such, United would have access to the big money prizes on offer for competing in Europe’s most prestigious club competition, allowing them to splash the cash on much-needed reinforcements during the summer transfer window. It could all have been avoided had the City players just waited an extra week to get their party started.