Not Yet Europa League Champions, Dark News Surrounds Manchester United

MANCHESTER, WEDNESDAY — The title of a giant team is no longer fitting for Manchester United. In addition to the dismal performance in the 2025-2026 season, which has left them struggling at the bottom of the table, advancing to the Europa League final has only highlighted the issues within the "Red Devils." As management implements efficiency measures, Manager Ruben Amorim has become the savior.

The minority owner of MU, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has confirmed that he will not implement a loyalty policy to provide free match tickets to club staff for the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur at San Mames Stadium, Bilbao, Spain, on Thursday (22/6/2025) at 02:00 WIB. Ratcliffe, who leads the daily management of MU, has only provided two tickets to the first-team players for the final game.

Players can give the free tickets to their family or friends. However, MU does not cover the accommodation costs for the relatives of the players traveling from Manchester to Bilbao and during their stay in Spain. This means that the Red Devils players must reach into their own pockets to include their family and friends in Bilbao.

This condition is certainly in contrast to the policy of Spurs CEO Daniel Levy. Despite being criticized by Spurs supporters during this season due to the team's declining performance on the field, Levy, referring to The Mirror, has confirmed that he will prepare 700 free tickets for permanent Spurs employees to watch the final match. The number is taken from the allocation of 15,000 Spurs tickets at San Mames.

On the other hand, Ratcliffe decided to fully utilize the allocation of 15,000 tickets for MU to their supporters. Interestingly, the club's staff or employees did not receive any privileges to obtain easier access to tickets for the final match, even if they wished to purchase them with their own money.

In order to console the club's employees, MU management prepared an official watch together event from the club. However, again, the staff who watched the final match via nobar were only limited to ordering two free drinks. If they wanted to order further drinks, they had to pay individually.

Amidst the uncertainty, Ruben Amorim emerged as a savior. He ensured the provision of 30 tickets for the staff assigned to assist the main team. Not only tickets, but Amorim also funded the families of those staff members for match tickets and accommodation while in Bilbao.

"Ruben Amorim paid for 30 United dressing room staff to bring their families to next week's final in Bilbao. It was a response to the club's decision that coaches, physios and first-team support staff must pay for their own tickets," a source told ESPN on Tuesday (13/5/2025).

Amorim has also communicated his plan to the club management. The Portuguese tactician has allowed his assistants at MU to bring a maximum of two relatives, whether family members or friends, to fly to Bilbao.

“Sources said paying team staff, including lower-paid staff members at the club, is a way to acknowledge and appreciate their contributions and commitment during a difficult six months at the club,” ESPN continued.

The wise decision of the manager who arrived at MU last November has relieved the main team staff. Amid the efficiency of the club's leadership, they still have Amorim who cares for them.

At the very least, MU employees can find some solace after hearing the policy of Spurs or Paris Saint-Germain, which pays for the tickets and accommodation of 600 employees to watch the Champions League final.

Not only is there an issue with appreciation tickets, but the management of the Red Devils has also decided to prepare a minimalistic celebration for the Europa League championship. MU players are assured that they will not be welcomed with a bus parade when returning from Bilbao to Manchester, one day after the final match.

This indicates that MU supporters will not witness the champion parade bus of their beloved club again. That moment last occurred in May 2013 when MU secured the ultimate trophy of the English League during the era of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Instead, the management only prepared a barbecue party at the team's training center in Carrington. In fact, if they win the Europa League, MU will receive prize money of up to 85 million pounds or around Rp1.87 trillion.

“Old Trafford chiefs have decided that the open-top bus parade will not be held,” The Times said.

A contrasting situation will occur in London if Spurs win the championship. "The Lilywhites" will adorn the city of London with an open-top bus parade to celebrate the Europa League title, which is their first trophy since the 2007-2008 edition of the English League Cup.

MU officials reasoned that the minimalist championship celebration was conducted due to the club's busy schedule. Three days after the final in Bilbao, MU will play the final match of this season against Aston Villa.

Subsequently, they will fly to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to participate in a post-season tour against the ASEAN All-Stars at the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Malaysia on May 28. This brief Asia tour will conclude with a game in Hong Kong on May 30. After that, the players will join their national teams for international matches in the June 2025 period.

In addition to the celebration that is expected to be less festive, the MU supporter group is also reported to be more inferior compared to Spurs supporters in Bilbao. Besides the 15,000 ticket-holding supporters, more than 15,000 other Spurs fans will flood the city of Bilbao even without tickets to watch the match live in the stadium.

They will watch the match in the fan zoneprovided by UEFA in the corners of Bilbao city. Meanwhile, MU supporters who came without tickets were only around 2,000 people.