Manchester United‘s season hasn’t gone as planned, but the Red Devils have a shot at redemption. Securing a spot in the Europa League final offers a chance to end the season on a high note.
Their dominant 7-1 aggregate win over Athletic Club sets up a final against Ruben Amorim’s Tottenham, who triumphed over Bodo/Glimt with a 5-1 victory across both matches. This is taking place at the same time FIFA is changing the Women’s World Cup.
Despite domestic struggles, Tottenham has surprisingly defeated Man United three times this season. Winning the Europa League would end Spurs’ 17-year trophy drought. For United, it’s a chance to salvage a disappointing campaign with silverware.
Winning the Europa League also guarantees a Champions League spot, but that qualification is not guaranteed for United due to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ownership stakes in both Man United and Nice (Ligue 1 team).
Previous regulations would have blocked both clubs from European competition. However, UEFA revised the rules last year to accommodate multi-club ownership models. The current approach assesses each case individually, which previously allowed both United and Nice (plus Manchester City and Girona) to compete in the Europa League.
Todibo Transfer Blocked, Future Concerns
Ratcliffe’s stake in Nice already caused issues when Jean-Clair Todibo’s transfer to Old Trafford fell through. Despite that, there’s reason for United to hope this won’t be a long term issue.
Firstly, Ratcliffe is considering selling Nice. This could happen before a certain deadline, allowing both clubs to participate in the Champions League, even if United win Europa League.
Even if Ratcliffe keeps shares in both clubs, UEFA’s regulations recognize unique circumstances. As long as it is evident the clubs are not managed in tandem, both could be deemed eligible.
see also
Ruben Amorim casts doubt on Manchester United future after disappointing loss to West Ham
Ratcliffe’s Intent to Divest
Ratcliffe’s plan to sell Nice could strengthen United’s position. However, this would take time.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe expressed confidence that no ownership conflict would arise. “No, there are no circumstances upon which an ownership of Nice would prevent Manchester United from playing in the Champions League. I’ll be crystal clear on that,” he stated.
He added, “It says you have to change the ownership structure, you know. So it’s all about influence and positions on the board and that sort of thing. A: the rules are changing, and B: there are shades of grey not black and white. Manchester City will probably have the problem before we have the problem because they’ve obviously got Girona.“
