MANCHESTER UNITED’S nightmare season ended in the ultimate humiliation as they watched Tottenham lift their first trophy in 17 years.
Ruben Amorim’s side have suffered their most embarrassing campaign in more than half a century.
The Red Devils have been dismal iin the Premier League, cocked up the cups and then fell to defeat at their last chance to save their campaign.
Their performance in the Europa League final had fans labelling the match the “worst European final ever” as they failed to make 73 PER CENT of possession count, conceding to Spurs’ only shot on target.
Brennan Johnson’s goal was the difference in the Basque Country as United’s failure to win saw them resigned to their first season without European football since 2015.
That means there will be no big midweek nights for the United fans next term, a reality that won’t just hurt their reputation but also their bank balance.
A season away from European competition will mean a huge hit to the income streams – missing out on mega TV money.
Their inability to reach Europe via cup success comes after their worst league campaign since the 1973-1974 campaign – a season that they were relegated from the top flight.
United have lost 18 GAMES in the Prem this season, winning only ten of their 37 league matches.
Nine of those 18 defeats have come at Old Trafford, making it their joint-most home losses in a single league campaign.
It is also United’s worst Premier League points tally, with their maximum return currently standing at just 42 points – some 16 points less than their previous worst from the 2021/22 season.
Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand labelled the season a ‘disaster’ when he told TNT Sports how his former club didn’t even deserve to gloss over their dismal effort with Europa League glory.
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…
He said: “A disaster of a season ending on a bad note, but I don’t think Man Utd did enough to deserve it.
“There was no real cutting edge in the Man Utd team. All that sustained pressure, the goalkeeper [Guglielmo Vicario] made one save in the whole game – you can’t expect to win a trophy when you’re a bit reserved.”
Boss Amorim has been unable to turn things around since his arrival at Old Trafford in November, replacing Erik ten Hag.
Across the 26 league matches he has managed, Amorim has averaged less than a point per game (0.92) – winning just six of those games.
But even the Portuguese manager knows that his tenure has not been good enough, hinting earlier this month that he could walk if he can’t turn things around.
He said: “The final is not the issue. We have bigger things to think about. I’m talking about myself and the culture in the club and the culture in the team. We need to change that.
“It’s a decisive moment in the history of the club. We need to be really strong in the summer and to be brave because we will not have a next season like this.
“If we start like this, if the feeling is still here, we should give the space to different people.”
Amorim wants to be strong in the summer, but a lack of European money and no Champions League football will make bringing big names through the door even harder.
Links to bottom-half Prem clubs’ wantaway stars – such as Liam Delap and Matheus Cunha – will fail to excited the majority of United fans.
For now, Amorim will have to focus on Sunday, trying and end the season on a high note with a win over Champions League-chasing Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
Should they not do that they will have yet another mark against their name, failing to reach the traditional ‘Magic 40 points’ that has historically guaranteed a team’s safety in the Prem.
They are safe, of course – but only due to the ineptitude of those below them.
Read the full article here
