With just days to go before Manchester United face Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final, the squad’s preparations are being carefully managed by head coach Ruben Amorim.
United’s 2-0 defeat to West Ham over the weekend has put even greater emphasis on ending the season with silverware.
Bruno Fernandes, who is expected to captain the side in Bilbao, is in line for a gruelling schedule with Portugal’s UEFA Nations League campaign kicking off just weeks after the final.
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Matthijs de Ligt remains sidelined with the extent of Leny Yoro’s injury unknown, meaning United could field a patched-up defence.
Supporters continue to snap up every available seat from the club’s 15,000 allocation, but it’s not just fans feeling the squeeze.
Manchester United have informed their players that they will each receive just two free tickets for the Europa League final, with travel to Bilbao also restricted to matchday only, as per BBC.
Players have been given the option to purchase up to 10 additional tickets, but they are fully responsible for arranging transport and logistics for any family or friends attending the clash on 21 May.
The move forms part of a wider cost-cutting initiative that has seen the club implement staff redundancies and even scrap complimentary lunches at Carrington.
In another unexpected twist, club employees will not be given free tickets for the final, as was customary in past European campaigns, as CentreDevils exclusively revealed.
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Instead, a viewing party will be held in central Manchester.
If United lift the trophy, it will be tricky to do a trophy parade through the city.
Plans are already in place for a quiet barbeque celebration at the training ground rather than the traditional open-top bus.
This is in stark contrast to rivals Liverpool, who are set to host a Premier League title parade, and Newcastle, who celebrated their Carabao Cup win with a city-wide celebration earlier this year.
A parade was ruled out for United due to the congested fixture schedule, with a Premier League match against Aston Villa just four days after the final.
The team will then embark on a post-season tour of Asia, facing opposition in Malaysia and Hong Kong, before players immediately report for international duty.
It’s a demanding conclusion to a long campaign, and one that offers little time for celebration—even if United emerge as Europa League champions.
