HERE we go again. The vicious cycle of doom and gloom is up and running.
In the post Sir Alex Ferguson era, we’ve seen this all before.
But the crisis at Manchester United this summer is going to be bigger than ever before.
Defeat to Spurs, who finally won a trophy after 17 years, just sums up a disastrous season.
The future looks bleak but where do United go from here?
In the past, the manager has carried the can for poor results and performances.
David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag all lost and the players won.
But the scale of this loss in Bilbao and its consequences will be more widespread than Ruben Amorim’s future.
The Portuguese boss has already stated this is probably one of the worst teams in United’s history and who can argue?
However, fingers will now be pointed elsewhere.
The scrutiny will intensify on Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ownership while this season’s abject failure will spark more protests against him and the Glazer family.
And the turmoil will only filter down.
Expect a toxic atmosphere at Old Trafford when Aston Villa visit on Sunday – and the likelihood of another defeat – as supporters make their voices heard once again.
Lying 16th in the Premier League is embarrassing, so will Ratcliffe back Amorim? Will Amorim walk?
This is on United’s hierarchy. They picked the Portuguese boss and told him to leave Sporting mid-season.
Ratcliffe and co have already sacked one manager so what look is it to axe another one?
Man Utd ratings: Diallo best player in Europa League final but Hojlund out of his depth
AMAD DIALLO’S fizzing first-half display was little consolation for Manchester United in a dismal 1-0 Europa League final loss to Tottenham.
Rasmus Hojlund’s plight up front continued in one of the worst European showpieces for many years – as both sides showed why they will finish in the Premier League lower reaches.
Spurs clinched it from virtually their first opportunity – on 42 minutes.
Brennan Johnson bundled in Pape Sarr’s inswinging cross, with United left-back Luke Shaw also getting a touch on the way.
The Red Devils dictated possession more and more after the break, with Leny Yoro stretching to test Guglielmo Vicario from a free-kick.
But United’s chances only arrived regularly in the final quarter of a patchy contest.
The Red Devils belatedly piled on the pressure in the seven minutes of stoppage time, but Spurs just held on.
Here’s how SunSport’s Dave Courtnadge rated United on a miserable night individually and collectively for Ruben Amorim’s men…
United fans will back Amorim and give him the chance to rebuild.
But what material will he have to work with, especially under PSR constraints?
Without the £100m Champions League money, I’m sure there will be more cost-cutting.
This time it won’t just be staff cuts, first-team players will need to be sold and it won’t be a case of picking and choosing who goes because no one is safe.
The prospect of United competing with the best is drifting further and further away.
Add in the fact Liverpool are Premier League champions and it’s probably best to stay away from the UK for a few days which I’ll be doing direct from Spain thanks to a Bruce Springsteen gig in France this weekend.
Bilbao was certainly a City of Ruins for United…
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