Manchester United’s financial crisis, exposed by co-owner Jim Ratcliffe this week, has heaped more pressure on Ruben Amorim’s men to deliver Europa League glory and a return to Champions League revenues next season.

United host Real Sociedad on Thursday with their last-16 tie finely poised after a 1-1 draw in Spain last week.

The Red Devils sit 14th in the Premier League meaning their hopes of salvaging a miserable season depend on European glory.

Ahead of announcing plans for a new 100,000-seater stadium to replace Old Trafford on Tuesday, Ratcliffe defended the ruthless cost-cutting he has implemented throughout the club during his first year in charge.

United have not yet detailed how they plan to finance the reported £2 billion ($2.6 billion) cost of the new stadium.

Last month, the club announced that up to 200 further redundancies were anticipated after 250 jobs were cut last year.

Ratcliffe claimed the club would have “run out of money at Christmas if we don’t do those things” in a series of media interviews.

The English giants have made cumulative losses of £410 million in the last seven years after a series of expensive mistakes in the transfer market and in managerial hires.

However, only once in the past 35 years have they missed out on European football entirely.

That fate looks almost certain this season unless United lift the Europa League in Bilbao on May 21.

“It’s massive,” said United midfielder Christian Eriksen of the Sociedad game.




https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/03/cash-strapped-man-utd-turn-to-europa-league-to-save-season/