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After a very disappointing domestic season, the Europa League final was seen as a chance to save Manchester United, the ray of a dark campaign.
But what is the future hold for the club, especially manager Reuben Amorim, following Wednesday’s defeat to lower Premier League Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao?
Wednesday’s results concluded a historic poor season for United, resulting in missing next year’s Champions League and the substantial financial uplift that comes with it.
After the Erik Ten Hag fired, Amorim, who was hired by the club in November, overseeing the team’s slides to the Premier League table.
Red Devils Currently 16th, sitting outside of a European qualification position, he has suffered from the defeat of Club Record 18 in one campaign since the Premier League began in 1992. Needless to say, the club is on the course with the worst Premier League finish.
In the Europa League final, they offered the Spurs, as well as United, and offered the chance to redeem an overwhelming campaign with trophies and spots in the top club competitions of European football, but the defeat focuses on how much work they need to do during the offseason.
Despite being hired six months ago, Amorim faced questions from the media about his own future at the club after his defeat in Spain and refused to rule out leaving if the owner decides he is not the right man for the job.
“I have nothing to show to my fans,” the Portuguese manager told reporters. “So, at this moment, it’s a bit of faith. Let’s take a look. I’m always open. If the board and the fans feel I’m not the right person, I’ll go the next day without a conversation about compensation.
“But I won’t quit. I’m really confident in my job, and as you see, I won’t change anything in the way I do things.”
Although Amorim was unsure about his future, he appears to be supported by United players, with two senior members of the team expressing their support for him.
Left-back Luke Shaw said Amorim was “100% right guy” for the United manager’s job, and star midfielder Bruno Fernandez agreed.
“I don’t think what happened this season shows exactly what he’s doing as a manager,” Fernandez told TNT Sports. “Obviously, the outcome is always loud, but I think he’s the perfect manager for the club’s future.”
After Wednesday night’s defeat, the mood was calm between United players and coaches, and a last chance to save a faint positive light from the disappointing season escaped.
Many key players had the opportunity to reflect on the poor campaign, with the England International Show apologising for their team’s performances all year round.
“It’s difficult to write words this season, but for a club like Manchester United, I don’t think that’s enough,” Shaw told reporters. “I definitely think me and all of us have to ask ourselves questions tonight. Is it enough to be here? Because this club, this season, that’s not acceptable.
“We know that, and it depends on us. We think we have to see ourselves. We have to change something.”
One of the things that will likely change over the summer is the team. Some players have their contracts expired – Victor Lindelph and Christian Eriksen’s deals run out this year, but the other players are linked to the move.
Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho is linked to the movement and will only increase after the final on Wednesday after expressing frustration.
“I played every time until we reached the finals, and I played 20 minutes today. I don’t know. I’ll enjoy the summer and see what happens next.”
Similarly, 20-year-old midfielder Cobbie Mineau has been attracting interest from other clubs and is reportedly likely to move. Even United’s captain Fernandez is linked away from northern England, with Saudi clubs reportedly reportedly.
Fernandez has been one of United’s shining lights in recent years despite the club’s poor form, but he admitted that he could move this summer if the board decides to “take cash.”
“I always said I was here until the club said it was time for me to go,” the 30-year-old said according to Athletic. “I want to do more. I can take the club to a great day. The club thinks I’m too many or it’s time to say goodbye. Soccer is like this.
“But I’m always saying that and I keep my words the same. If the club thinks it’s time for them to say goodbye because they want to do some kind of cash, then it’s what it is, and football is like this at times.”
It looks like there’s a cloud hanging at Manchester United – the final game of the season at Aston Villa’s home on Sunday is definitely a grumpy affair – and it seems like it will require a lot of work Red Devils Returning to the heights of the past few years.