Manchester United lost in the Europa League final and this is what it meansManchester United lost in the Europa League final and this is what it means
Manchester United lost in the Europa League final and this is what it means | Getty Images
Man Utd were beaten 1-0 by Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League.
Manchester United confirmed a dismal end to their worst season in modern history after they lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final on Thursday night. Brennan Johnson scored the only goal of the game to secure a famous trophy for Ange Postecoglou and Champions League qualification.
It has been a chastening debut campaign for Ruben Amorim at the club, with even more pressure on their summer transfer plans and their rebuild under the Portuguese head-coach. Here is a look at what the Europa League final defeat and lack of Champions League football means for United in the months ahead.
Manchester United insist there was never any question over Ruben Amorim's future, irrespective of their result in the Europa League final. Victory would certainly have helped his case though.
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The Portuguese head coach has endured a difficult start to life at Old Trafford but this was further evidence of why he did not want to take the job mid-season and would rather have joined at the end of the campaign. United effectively wrote off the entire season when they sacked Erik ten Hag so early and now they must live with the reality of the decision they made.
This season has once again reminded us all that the problems go far beyond the men's first-team manager and why he must be backed this summer. Only then can he fairly be judged.
Transfer plans
Manchester United had initially budgeted for the summer window with the expectation they would be without European football next season. It is not expected to change their plans that wildly.
A move for Matheus Cunha is already close to completion and was never going to hinge on if they won the Europa League, but that is not the same for other players this summer. With a World Cup next year, many players not only want to play regular football, they also want to play it at the highest level to boost their hopes of an international call-up.
It might be harder to convince Liam Delap to join United over Chelsea without Champions League football, while it has also reduced the chance that an elite option like Viktor Gyokeres might now want to move to Old Trafford as well. It is not just about the money, but the platform it gives the club.
More time on the training ground
It might not be the time for positives, but if there is one for United it is that next season they will have a lot more time to focus on their style of play under Ruben Amorim. His hands have been tied not only due to a lack of suitable players, but also a lack of time to work on their set-up on the training ground.
United have played 58 matches this season thanks to their extensive Europa League campaign, next season it could be as few as 40. You’d like to think that will have a positive impact on their cohesion and consistency, even if there is little evidence to suggest that just yet.
What is clear is that there will be far less room for error next season and with no European football, there is no shot at redemption for another poor domestic campaign.
A financial blow
It was estimated Champions League qualification would have earned Manchester United an extra £100 million, though it was reported this week that the fee would effectively already been wiped out by the fact the club are anticipated to lose the same figure this financial year.
Whatever the case, there is sure to be some ramification from the failure to secure Champions League qualification, whether that is reduced commercial income and the loss of additional television revenue next season.
Speaking pre-match Ruben Amorim reiterated the club's transfer plans would not be dictated by the outcome of the match but did admit they might have been able to sign another player if they had received the windfall.
No change to the summer schedule
The winner of the Europa League also plays in the Super Cup against the Champions League winners as a curtain-raiser before next season. It is not anything United need to worry about. The showpiece occasion will be played in Udine, Italy on Wednesday 13 August and might have been a needless distraction for Ruben Amorim’s side.
The match, against either Paris Saint-Germain or Inter Milan, will come four days after the final pre-season friendly against Fiorentina at Old Trafford and before they start the Premier League campaign the following weekend. This at least gives United better preparation for a season when they need to be perfect from the start.
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