Manchester United were beaten by Tottenham in the Europa League final on Wednesday, denying Ruben Amorim and his team a route into next season's Champions League
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Sir Alex Ferguson holding the Premier League title
Sir Alex Ferguson won 38 trophies as Manchester United boss
(Image: PA)
Manchester United legend Gary Pallister has revealed that during Sir Alex Ferguson's time, players were always encouraged to celebrate triumphs in grand style.
The Red Devils suffered an agonising 1-0 defeat by Tottenham in the final of the Europa League on Wednesday, dashing their hopes of ending what has been a dismal season on a high. Brennan Johnson's scrappy first-half effort was the difference-maker, with United unable to take advantage of their possession dominance.
As a result, the club has missed out on silverware and a route back to the Champions League, ahead of what looks like a steep uphill battle to regain top-four contention for Ruben Amorim and co.
Had United won, celebrations would likely have been muted, with reported plans for a private barbecue at Carrington instead of a traditional open-top bus parade.
But speaking ahead of the Bilbao final, Pallister suggested Ferguson would have encourage more of a jubilant atmosphere, noting that the club organised a bus parade after winning the Cup Winners' Cup in 1991.
"When we played under Sir Alex it was always if you win something you celebrate and enjoy yourself celebrating," the 59-year-old told the Express.
Mark Hughes, Gary Pallister and Bryan Robson celebrating winning the Premier League
Gary Pallister (centre) says Sir Alex Ferguson encouraged his players to properly celebrate trophy wins
"You've got to gauge that from within the club, how everyone feels about it. I'd like to think you'd be able to celebrate with a big party with family and friends, which is what we used to do at a hotel if we won an FA Cup. Or we'd book somewhere if we won the Premier League, and we'd have a great night out together.
"The players and the families I'm sure will be there to celebrate it if United beat Tottenham. European Cup Winners' Cup, we had a great day touring around the city on the bus.
"I think we'd finished mid-table that season, but we were starting to edge up. We were getting to be a better team, we’d won the FA Cup the year before. We won the Cup Winners' Cup."
Sir Alex holding the Cup Winners' Cup trophy
Manchester United celebrated their 1991 Cup Winners' Cup victory with an open-top bus parade, despite finishing sixth in the league
Pallister spent nine years at Old Trafford and became a central cog in Ferguson's first truly dominant United side. He won 10 major honours, including four Premier League titles and three FA Cups, and left with a legacy as one of the club's best-ever defenders.
Despite the club's recent struggles, United have developed a habit of ending seasons strongly in cup competitions. They were hoping to end three successive seasons with silverware by winning the Europa League - adding to the League Cup triumph in 2023 and FA Cup win 2024.
But it wasn't to be, as Tottenham emerged victorious in what was a tense and scrappy affair at San Mames Stadium. Johnson's goal, a bundled effort just before half-time, proved decisive, with Spurs' resolute defending - highlighted by Micky van de Ven's acrobatic clearance and Guglielmo Vicario's late save - thwarting United's efforts.