Europa League final: How Bruno Fernandes became Manchester United’s heart
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Europa League final: How Bruno Fernandes became Manchester United’s heart
Manchester United face Tottenham in the Europa League final in Bilbao. Bruno Fernandes was set to join Spurs in January 2020 for £47m. The deal was all but done, after five meetings with his entourage. The club board, however, changed their mind, holding out for an offer twice as big that never arrived.
Six months before the Portuguese midfielder moved to Old Trafford from Sporting in January 2020 for £47m, Fernandes was all set to sign for Spurs under Mauricio Pochettino.
The deal was all but done, after five meetings with his entourage and Spurs left Fernandes and his people impressed with the north London club’s structure.
“They were absolutely next level when it comes to detail,” said a source involved in the talks.
“Even the rooms at the training ground – each one was decorated just like the players’ bedrooms at home, the ones they share with their partners.
“The bed was exactly the same. Even the flowers in the garden gave off a scent that’s meant to be beneficial – it was mind-blowing.
“There were two weeks left in the window, but Sporting were going to accept it.”
The club board, however, changed their mind, holding out for an offer twice as big that never arrived. With the transfer window closing, they made the decision during the Europa League draw in Monaco to sell Raphinha to Rennes instead.
Fernandes was so convinced that he’d be heading to north London that, when Sporting president Frederico Varandas came to explain the situation, he told him to go away.
For a while, he found himself in a bad place mentally.
Six months later, however, an agreement was reached with Manchester United – and the rest is history.
Tottenham v Manchester United: How much is the Europa League final worth?
Spurs or United would be guaranteed about £21m, with additional prize money awarded based on league position and for victories and draws. The figure of £54.4m does not include prize money earned beyond the Champions League’s last 16. United have already earned £26.6m for their success in Europe
That figure is a combination of prize money for winning the competition and for reaching the league phase for the 2025-26 Champions League.
Spurs or United would be guaranteed about £21m, with additional prize money awarded based on league position and for victories and draws.
The figure of £54.4m does not include prize money earned beyond the Champions League’s last 16.
United have already earned £26.6m for their success in Europe’s second-tier competition this season, while Tottenham’s total prize money so far is about £26.5m.
The slight difference comes as United drew one more match than Tottenham and finished one place above them in the league phase.
Included in the money both clubs have already won, Spurs and United received £5.9m each for reaching the final.
Europa League final: Manchester United and Tottenham meet in out-of-form final
BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel and Simon Stone have their say on whose season has been worse. Spurs have underperformed, underachieved, Domestically, at least. Manchester United have been worse because much of the damage has been self-inflicted. United have got one point from five Premier League games. Tottenham have lost key players for long periods of time, but this is an expensively-assembled squad – one that includes the club-record £65m signing of Dominic Solanke. United are in a season of transition, having changed managers midway through the season. Tottenham are a team set up to compete for Champions League qualification, they could finish one place above the relegation zone.
Mokbel on Spurs: “Underperformed, underachieved, unacceptable. Domestically, at least.
“While Tottenham will cling on to hope of somehow turning a catastrophic season into a historic one, there can be no running away from the fact that results and performances have been largely disastrous.
“Twenty-one defeats in the Premier League and counting. Of course, all that will be forgotten if Spurs lift the Europa League trophy on Wednesday night.
“Whether that is enough to keep Ange Postecoglou in a job, however, is the million-dollar question with all the indications pointing towards the Australian departing regardless of the outcome in Bilbao.
“The fact Postecoglou’s tenure in north London looks set to end imminently illustrates just how pitiful their domestic campaign has been.
“In their defence, injuries have debilitated Tottenham’s season. They have lost key players for long periods of time.
“But this is an expensively-assembled Tottenham squad – one that includes the club-record £65m signing of Dominic Solanke.
“United are in a season of transition, having changed managers midway through the season.
“It’s different for Tottenham. Following Postecoglou’s encouraging first season in charge, in which Spurs finished fifth, this was a team set up to compete for Champions League qualification.
“Instead, they could finish one place above the relegation zone. That’s undeniably poor.”
Stone on United: “Manchester United have been worse because much of the damage has been self-inflicted.
“United were the ones who reflected on Erik ten Hag’s tenure, both in the wake of their 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace last May, then after the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, and decided to stick with him.
“United gave him money to spend, specifically on Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee in the summer, then sacked him after nine games.
“And United told Ruben Amorim he had to start immediately, not wait until the summer to join from Sporting.
“Now, the safety net is Bilbao and then that United hit the ground running at the start of next season, which would justify the refusal to wait for Amorim.
“But, in the here and now, United have been woeful.
“There have been periods in games when they have looked fluid and their passing triangles have worked.
“However, Rasmus Hojlund has not looked a threat at one end of the field and basic mistakes have undermined them at the other.
“With six minutes left of extra time in their Europa League quarter-final against 10-man Lyon, it was not easy to strike a single optimistic note on United’s behalf. Somehow, they rescued themselves.
“Since then, United have got one point from five Premier League games. No-one has done worse than that.
“By any measure, this is United’s worst season since the 1973-74 relegation campaign. And they announced financial losses of £113.2m last September.
“To spend so much and be so bad really takes some doing.”
Europa League final: Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou refutes suggestion he is ‘a clown’
Ange Postecoglou hits back at claims he is a ‘clown’ ahead of Europa League final. Spurs boss says he is ‘not a clown and never will be’ Spurs face Manchester United in the final in Bilbao on Wednesday. Tottenham have not won a trophy since the Premier League returned in 1978.
Referencing a report in the Standard, external which said he was “teetering between hero and clown” depending on the result in Bilbao, Spurs boss Postecoglou defended his managerial record despite his side’s poor domestic season.
In Wednesday’s final, Tottenham will either end a 17-year wait for a trophy or finish the campaign empty-handed again, on the back of their worst campaign since the club returned to the top flight in 1978.
Speaking at San Mames Stadium, Postecoglou veered from simmering discontent to his voice cracking with emotion as he recounted his personal journey and that of his family.
He brought the conversation back to the article when the reporter who wrote it pointed out this season could become one of the best or worst in the club’s “modern history” and the Australian was veering a fine line “between two very different types of infamy”.
“Irrespective of tomorrow, I’m not a clown and never will be,” said Postecoglou.
“You really disappointed me that you used such terminology to describe a person that for 26 years, without any favours from anyone, has worked his way to a position where he is leading out a club in a European final.
“For you to suggest that somehow us not being successful means that I’m a clown, I’m not sure how to answer that question.”
Europa League final: Ruben Amorim thinks Man Utd would be seen differently with win
Manchester United face Tottenham in the Europa League final on Wednesday. Manager Ruben Amorim says he is under no pressure ahead of the game. Captain Bruno Fernandes says his boss needs to work on his mindset. United will miss out on European football for only the second time since 1990.
The reality is different – even if Amorim can’t explain why.
But he does feel his team may be looked at “in a different way” if they can beat Tottenham in Bilbao on Wednesday.
While many believe it is likely counterpart Ange Postecoglou will lose his job even if Spurs end their 17-year wait for a trophy and claim a place in next season’s Champions League by winning the Europa League title, at Old Trafford faith in Amorim remains high.
This is despite United’s lowly Premier League position and there is no suggestion defeat by Tottenham will alter that view. It will though rob United of around £100m in revenue and leave them without European football for only the second time since English clubs were allowed back into competition by Uefa in 1990.
Asked why he is under no pressure, Amorim was about to answer when his captain and fellow Portuguese spoke instead.
“He is. Who told you he is not?” laughed Fernandes.
This brought an immediate riposte from Amorim: “He wants my job. He’ll be a very good coach but he has to work on his mindset. He doesn’t know how to deal with people.”
Europa League final: Pick your combined Tottenham vs Man Utd XI
Tottenham face Manchester United in the Europa League final on Wednesday. Both teams are looking to secure Champions League football next season. We want to know who you would pick in a combined Tottenham and Manchester United XI.
Both teams have had poor campaigns domestically but one will ensure they finish it with a trophy and secure Champions League football for next season.
We want to know who you would pick in a combined Tottenham and Manchester United XI.
Pick your side below and share it with your friends on social media.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c0mr92m01weo