Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has paid for 30 members of his backroom staff to take their families to the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur on May 21, sources told ESPN’s Mark Ogden.
The Portuguese boss’ move follows United executives reportedly informing him that his coaches, physios, and support team would have to buy their own tickets as the club introduces more cost-cutting measures this summer. Up to 200 people could lose their jobs this offseason as co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe tries to improve the club’s financial state, Ogden reports.
Manchester United’s debt is currently at £731.5 million, and they could owe even more than that in interest payments, according to The Athletic’s Phil Hay.
The club decided to make staff pay for their own tickets so supporters have a better chance of being part of United’s allocation of 15,000 seats at Bilbao’s Estadio San Mames, sources told Ogden. But 60 of those tickets could now be taken after Amorim decided to ensure his staff can bring up to two friends or family members as a reward for their hard work during a tough period for the club.
Manchester United are 16th in the Premier League and have lost 17 matches – their most in a single campaign since they were relegated in 1974. However, the Europa League final promises to save the season of either United or Tottenham, who are a position below Amorim’s side in England’s top flight, as victory earns a place in next term’s lucrative opening phase of the Champions League.
Last season, Manchester United reached the FA Cup final amid strong speculation that Amorim’s predecessor, Erik ten Hag, would be sacked regardless of the result. United subsequently beat local rivals Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, and Ten Hag kept his job – only to be dismissed after just nine matches of this Premier League campaign. Ratcliffe has since admitted it was a mistake to extend Ten Hag’s contract.
United have fallen two places in the league standings since Amorim took the reins in November and lost to Fulham in the FA Cup and Tottenham in the League Cup. The club intends to keep Amorim even if his side loses to Spurs in the Europa League final, according to The Guardian’s Jamie Jackson.
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