Ruben Amorim failed to salvage the 2024/25 campaign for Manchester United when losing the Europa League final to Tottenham.
The man from Lisbon could have glossed over the fact Manchester United sit 16th in the Premier League by winning the trophy in Bilbao, which would have secured UEFA Champions League football for the Red Devils next season.
While the 1-0 loss to Spurs will undoubtedly be a bitter pill to swallow, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has already told Ruben Amorim why this result is ultimately a futile one.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was spot on with his assessment in March 2021
Just weeks before losing the UEFA Europa League final against Villarreal in May 2021, the Norwegian explained why a trophy is not always the be all and end all in football.
The Guardian quoted Solskjaer as saying: “Any cup competition can give you a trophy, but sometimes it’s more of an ego thing for managers and clubs. We need to see progress, and if we progress well enough, and we perform well enough, the trophies will end up at the club again.
“It’s not like a trophy will say that we’re back. No. It’s the gradual progression and the consistency of being near the top of the league, being in and around there, and adding the odd trophy. Sometimes, a cup competition can hide the fact you are still struggling a little bit.”
Manchester United players are 100% behind Ruben Amorim ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8c4ZSCCnzt
— GOAL (@goal) May 22, 2025
This outlook is spot on, and is even applicable to Tottenham – who could now sign Angel Gomes ahead of Manchester United.
Winning a trophy may provide some brief jubilation, but a Premier League campaign spanning 38 games provides a better reflection of where a club is actually at, and both sides need to take a serious look in the mirror after a terrible season domestically.
| Position | Team | Played MP |
Won W |
Drawn D |
Lost L |
For GF |
Against GA |
Diff GD |
Points Pts |
| 16 |  Man UtdManchester United |
37 | 10 | 9 | 18 | 42 | 54 | -12 | 39 |
| 17 |  TottenhamTottenham |
37 | 11 | 5 | 21 | 63 | 61 | 2 | 38 |
Manchester United will now struggle to sign player Arsenal want
Tottenham winning the UEFA Europa League may actually end up bolstering north London rivals Arsenal.
The moments from a memorable #UELfinal 💫#UELFreshPicks | @LidlGB pic.twitter.com/GjTAWkZ4PK
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 22, 2025
Manchester United planned to step up a move for Viktor Gyokeres after the final, a striker Arsenal also want after he scored 96 goals in 101 games for Sporting CP.
However, the Red Devils now find themselves in a much weaker negotiating position without European football to offer the Swede, so Spurs winning the Europa League could see him move to Arsenal instead.
