Manchester United Set To Be Ruthless After UEL Final

It is hard to sugarcoat what happened in Dublin. Manchester United, battered and bruised after a long, disjointed season, fell short again, this time in the Europa League final against Spurs. One final chance at redemption, gone. Another season with nothing to look up to. 

In the aftermath of the defeat, the message from Old Trafford was clear. No one is safe. No player is untouchable. No contract is sacred. For the first time in decades, Manchester United appears ready to rip it all up and start over. And truthfully, maybe it is about time.

A Financial Earthquake For Manchester United

It is easy to point fingers at players or managers when results go sideways, but the root of United’s problems runs deeper—something far beyond on the pitch, or even off it. The club had banked on a return to the Champions League, targeting a vital £100 million boost that could have helped steady the financial ship and get much-needed investment in the summer. Instead, they have sunk further into the red.

The numbers are frightening: a 60% drop in share value under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS leadership and a net debt now at €569 million. Combine that with five years of consecutive losses totaling over £370 million, and it paints a grim picture. This is not just a sporting failure. It is a financial crisis.

The result? A drastic shift in club policy. Reports suggest United could now listen to offers for almost every player in the squad, including household names like Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw, Andre Onana, and Alejandro Garnacho. It sounds unthinkable except for a few, but it’s genuine.

The club captain and heartbeat of United’s midfield, Fernandes, seems to understand the new reality. His words after the final were as honest as they were heartbreaking.  “I have always been honest. I’ve always said I will be here until the club says to me that it’s time to go. I’m eager to do more, to be able to bring the club the great days.

“In the day that the club thinks that I’m too much or it’s time to part ways, football is like this, you never know it. But I’ve always said it, and I keep my word in the same way. If the club thinks it’s time to part ways because they want to do some cashing in or whatever, it’s what it is, and football sometimes is like this.”

Cuts, Questions, and a Coach Under Pressure

It is not just on the pitch where the axe is falling. Behind the scenes, Manchester United are cutting deep. Hundreds of staff have reportedly been made redundant. Even basics like free staff lunches and the annual Christmas party have been scrapped. It is a brutal cost-cutting era at Carrington and Old Trafford alike.

And then there’s Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese coach finds himself in the crosshairs, once hailed as a breath of fresh air. The fans are divided, the board is quiet, and the results haven’t arrived. After the final, Amorim didn’t try to deflect blame or sugarcoat his failings. Instead, he spoke with a mixture of dignity and resignation:

“In this moment, I am not going to be here defending myself. It’s not my style, I cannot do it. It is really hard for me. So I have nothing to show to the fans and say, ‘I’m going to improve because of this, I have these problems…’ I will not do nothing. In this moment, it is a little bit of faith. Let’s see.

“I’m always open, if the board and the fans feel that I am not the right guy, I will go the next day without any conversation about compensation. But I will not quit. I am really confident in my job. As you can see, I will not change nothing in how I do things.”

Despite speculation, sources close to the club insist that Sir Jim Ratcliffe still backs Amorim. But it’s a fragile alliance, held together by little more than faith.

The Summer Ahead: Sink Or Swim

For Manchester United, this summer isn’t just about transfers, it’s about identity. What kind of club do they want to be? A breeding ground for young talent? A powerhouse built around a new generation? Or is it just a business trying to survive the next financial year?

Strikers like Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen, Benjamin Sesko, and Liam Delap are on their radar. Still, with no European football to offer, and clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City all looking to strengthen, those negotiations won’t be easy. Backup options like Lorenzo Lucca, Moise Kean, and Jean-Philippe Mateta feel more like budget picks than long-term solutions. 

Meanwhile, big-money flops like Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, and Antony could be back at Carrington this summer, albeit more as financial liabilities than footballing saviors. The club stands at a crossroads, with only one guarantee. Change is coming and coming fast at United. It has to.