Manchester United failed to turn their season around by lifting the Europa League trophy in Bilbao.
By a lot of accounts, Man United were considered slight favourites heading to Spain, but Ruben Amorim’s side failed to deliver, in quite dramatic fashion.
Neither Tottenham Hotspur nor United were good on the night but Spurs ultimately found a winner and were uncharacteristically solid at the back.
Postecoglou is still under pressure at Tottenham regardless of the result — Daniel Levy might still pull the trigger once the dust settles.
And whilst questions are being increasingly asked about Amorim at Old Trafford, it does seem as if the former Sporting CP manager will be afforded more time.
Alan Shearer questions Matheus Cunha’s move to Man United
Of course, United’s defeat in Bilbao could be a real setback in terms of their planning for next season — Amorim’s transfer budget might have just been significantly reduced.
United are close to agreeing terms with Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers for example, but how many deals will they be able to afford thereafter?
That being said, when speaking on ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast, Alan Shearer admitted that he wasn’t even sure why £60m-rated Cunha would sign for United right now.
Speaking fairly bluntly alongside Gary Lineker and Micah Richards, Shearer didn’t understand how United were going to continue to attract big players.
Shearer said: “Man United are not the club that they were 20 years ago, only by name — they’re a million miles off it, both on and off the pitch.
“And how they get, I don’t know how they’re going to get over this. Because one is, how do they attract top players? Two, are they going to be able to pay for any players to come in there, in terms of the financial situation they’re in?
“Because there’s no doubt it’s a huge blow with them not going to be in the Champions League, where the big money is.
“I mean, would you, if you were Cunha, I guess, the media are saying, but am I wrong in thinking that, how are they going to attract big players? Why would you want to go there?”
Richards replied: “I think they still can attract, maybe not the elite level players, but players who can develop.”
Lineker: “I’ve just seen that Cunha is apparently quite close to, I mean, I don’t know if that’s absolutely true, but we’ll see.”
Shearer: “I heard that.”
Richards: “Yeah, but Cunha fits into that system. He can play one of the tens. He likes to drift off the left as well, so I can see that working.
“But just back to Alan’s question, maybe not elite elite, but they still have the pull of Man United.
“I think the bigger question for me is, if you’re a player, do you want to go in and play in that system? Because it’s hindering the players.”
Man United out of the race for Viktor Gyokeres?
In addition to someone like Cunha, United were also understood to be on the hunt for a new striker this summer.
United have been linked with Viktor Gyokeres at Sporting CP but perhaps that is now an unlikely move for several reasons.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s side are unlikely to be able to afford a reunion with Amorim’s old striker at this point, a move that might put them at risk in terms of PSR.
United have been linked with Rayan Cherki too, and perhaps that is a slightly more realistic move given that the Lyon attacker is available for a cut-price.
But losing the Europa League final was obviously not going to be ideal for United, who will now perhaps need to inspire a rebuild by selling players first.
