Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will battle for redemption in Wednesday’s Europa League final in Bilbao, with a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) and the lucrative prize.
Both Premier League giants have endured disastrous domestic campaigns, sitting in 16th and 17th positions with one league match left.
The Europa League final offers both teams a final lifeline. The winner secures not only continental glory but also a spot in the restructured Champions League, an outcome that could reshape either club’s fortunes.
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“The outcome could define the next two or three years,” warned former United captain Gary Neville. “Without Champions League money, investment will be limited and future qualification even harder.”
Manchester United, who have missed out on European football just once in the past 35 years, are under financial strain.
Minority co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has implemented aggressive cost-cutting measures, including 450 job cuts over the past year. Plans for a £2 billion, 100,000-capacity stadium have raised eyebrows given the club’s current financial landscape.
On the pitch, manager Ruben Amorim has struggled to steady the ship since taking over in November, registering just six wins in 26 Premier League games. But he’s made no secret of his priorities.
“For me, the Champions League is more important than a trophy,” Amorim said last week.
“That’s what will help us return to the top quicker.”
Victory in Bilbao could bring an estimated £70 million in revenue, with UEFA’s revamped Champions League promising even greater rewards.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire suggests total earnings could exceed £100 million when prize money, sponsorship bonuses, and gate receipts are factored in.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are chasing their first major trophy in 17 years. Despite a state-of-the-art stadium that boosts non-matchday revenue, Spurs have posted losses of over £100 million in the last two seasons.
Chairman Daniel Levy has faced fan backlash for favouring financial prudence over on-pitch ambition.
“We cannot spend what we do not have,” Levy said when revealing the club’s latest accounts in March.
For the winner, Wednesday’s final could mark the start of a new chapter. For the loser, it may signal a long, uncertain road back to Europe’s elite.
