Since the clash with Lyon in the quarter-finals, Man United fans have envisioned the prospect of the Europa League final being their everything this season. The later it gets, the more true it gets.
The match in Bilbao is not only for the "Red Devils" fans, it is vital for this whole club, including Ruben Amorim, who is holding the project to revive an empire.
In recent months, when asked about the Europa League, even after the recent 0-2 loss to West Ham, Ruben Amorim still said that this arena is not everything. Everything will be summarized at the end of the season to give direction for the next year.
Last month, Amorim said that the Champions League ticket could change everything and indeed, as long as he had it in hand, the Portuguese strategist would have a huge boost this summer.
Looking at Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, we can see that momentum is very strong. As soon as they returned to the Champions League, The Kop only took one more season to reach the final (the defeat to Real Madrid in 2018). exactly 1 year later, they reached the final again and won the championship (beating Tottenham). Since then, the Anfield team has always been a big force in this playground.
In terms of strategic vision, with a Champions League ticket in hand, Amorim will have money to buy, have the ability to negotiate better on the transfer table,... However, it is impossible to let this Champions League ticket shine and then suddenly go out. The 40-year-old strategist understands that the most important thing is ability in the national championship, which is sustainability.
Looking at Arsenal, it can be seen that maintaining good form in the national championship helps the "Gunners" gradually improve their performance in the Champions League. Last year they reached the quarter-finals and lost to Bayern Munich. This year, Mikel Arteta and his team reached the semi-finals and lost to PSG after defeating Real Madrid.
The Premier League and Champions League are a resonance. A good player in the Premier League will always have a Champions League ticket. Being a regular presence in the Champions League will help elevate the team's position and class. Since Pep Guardiola arrived in the Premier League, only Man City and Liverpool have won this tournament. They are also the English representatives (along with Chelsea in 2021) who have won the Champions League since then.
A win in the Europa League final may not change the fact that Man United are playing very badly in the Premier League. However, it gives Ruben Amorim and his team the feeling that they are improving in terms of performance, not just feelings. Three years, from the League Cup, FA Cup and then Europa League championships, it was a clear promotion of titles.
From there, the players also have the belief that just try, they will do something great. The home team also have more confidence to help Amorim go a long way. If he had just lost his burden, it is unclear who was brave enough to take the reins at Old Trafford.
"It would be a big deal if we lost the final. At that time, the patience of the fans will come to an end, perhaps everyone has just 1 year to correct their mistakes and perfect everything" - Ruben Amorim shared after the loss to West Ham.
If Man United wins the Europa League final, Ruben Amorim will play the role of a new guiding light for the Red Devils' reconstruction. If he fails, he, like many other coaches in the post- Sir Alex era, will take over the team after a bad period and do not know where the future will go.
