Manchester United set a new but unwanted record last night with their 1-0 Premier League loss to Chelsea.
Marc Cucurella’s second half header ensured all three points at Stamford Bridge for the hosts with a key win for Enzo Maresca’s side in the race for Champions League football next season.
Chelsea go into the final game of their domestic season away to Nottingham Forest with their destiny in their own hands and know a victory at the City Ground will guarantee a place in Europe’s top club competition in the 2025-26 campaign.
United meanwhile suffered their 18th Premier League loss of the campaign with the defeat in West London.
The Red Devils looked like they had gone ahead in the first half thanks to Harry Maguire’s finish, only to see it chalked off for offside when it was referred to the VAR.
United are poised for by far their worst finish in the Premier League era, and sit 16th in the table following last night’s defeat.
Amorim’s side end their domestic season next weekend at Old Trafford against Aston Villa, but before then have a huge clash in the form of the Europa League final in Bilbao against fellow Premier League strugglers Tottenham Hotspur.
Ange Postecoglou’s side are 17th in the standings and remarkably one of these two sides will not only lift a trophy next Wednesday evening, but also claim a place in next season’s Champions League thanks to the victors of the Europa League earning a spot in the competition.
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim. (Image: Getty)
Speaking after the loss against Chelsea and looking ahead to the game in Bilbao, Amorim said: “We have to prepare for each competition but, with a five day gap, we can rest. We have five days to prepare [for the Europa League final] – two days to fully recover and then two days to prepare.
“In the end, I looked at all of the players and I think they are OK. Of course we are excited to be in the final. The pressure has been there since day one but I live with the pressure quite well. When we have a final in any cup we show up, so we are prepared for that.”
Amorim took the United job in mid-November after the Old Trafford club had sacked previous boss Erik ten Hag, the Portuguese boss leaving Sporting Lisbon to move to England.
And though Amorim has not been in charge of United for the whole season, the club will set a new unwanted record under his watch, which highlights how dismal a campaign it has been for the Old Trafford side.
After not picking up a victory against Chelsea, it means United will end a Premier League season for the first time without picking up back-to-back wins in the competition since its formation in 1992.
The only other two occasions this has happened in the club’s history was in the 1893-94 and 1921-22 seasons.
