Manchester United is collapsing.

Manchester United lost 0-1 to Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the 2024-2025 UEFA Europa League held at Estadio San Mamés in Bilbao, Spain, on the 22nd (Korea time).

As a result, Manchester United bowed their heads in this life-and-death match that hinged on their return to European competition and Champions League qualification. The defeat in this final, which had over $130 million in revenue at stake, led to losses beyond just a trophy.

Manchester United lined up in a 3-4-3 formation. Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund, and Amad Diallo formed the front line, while Patrick Dier, Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, and Noussair Mazraoui filled the midfield. Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, and Lisandro Martínez built the back three, with Andre Onana guarding the goal.

Tottenham lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Richarlison, Dominic Solanke, and Brennan Johnson positioned themselves at the forefront, while Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr, and Rodrigo Bentancur were deployed in the midfield. Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Pedro Porro formed the defense, with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario donning the gloves. Captain Son Heung-min remained on the bench.

From the beginning of the match, Manchester United suffered from Tottenham's strong pressing and transition play, allowing Brennan Johnson to score first in the 41st minute. A cross from the left side was deflected off a defender, and Johnson reconnected with it to shake the net.

Finishing the first half trailing 0-1, Manchester United launched a full-scale offensive in the second half. In the 68th minute, goalkeeper Vicario cleared the ball, which Hojlund connected with a header, but defender Micky van de Ven made a decisive clearance off the goal line. They created several chances but failed to convert.

Midway through the match, Son Heung-min was substituted in, strengthening Tottenham's counterattacks and pressing play. Manchester United continued to seek the equalizer until the end, but ultimately failed to break through. Seven minutes of stoppage time were given, but they ended the match with a score of 0-1.

As a result, Manchester United remained as the runners-up in the Europa League and failed to secure a place in next season's European competitions. The final chapter of the complete rebuilding under manager Ruben Amorim ended in a bitter conclusion.

For Manchester United, this Europa League final was not just a trophy competition, but a '£100 million final' tied to the club's future.

The BBC pointed out before the match that "whether to qualify for the Champions League has a significant impact on Manchester United's overall financial structure." In fact, Manchester United has accumulated losses of about 558 billion won over the past three years, and they face liabilities exceeding £1 billion (approximately 1.86 trillion won), along with a penalty clause of £10 million (about 18.5 billion won) in their contract with Adidas.

Financial expert Kieran Maguire analyzed that there is potential for up to £100 million in revenue if they participate in the Champions League. However, Manchester United failed to qualify for the Champions League after losing 0-1 to Tottenham in this final, making a complete overhaul of their rebuilding plan inevitable.

The atmosphere in Manchester United's locker room was very chaotic. Even captain Bruno Fernandes shocked everyone by mentioning that he might leave the team. He had consistently stated that he was happy at Manchester United despite ongoing rumors of a transfer to Saudi Arabia. This contradicted his previous claims.

Due to Manchester United's failure to win the Europa League and financial pressures, discussions about Fernandes moving to Saudi Arabia are resurfacing. He said, "I have stated multiple times that I want to stay at the club. But if Manchester United tells me to leave, I will leave," acknowledging the likelihood of separation while adding, "Honestly, I want to continue playing at Manchester United, but if the club says to leave, that’s how football is."

Fernandes said, "If the club indicates that I have to leave due to financial difficulties, I think that's how football is." He added, "There are no guarantees for the future in football. I have always thought that way, and I still do. If the club wants to cash in on me, I will willingly comply."

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