Man United ‘to have a BARBECUE at club’s training ground instead of bus parade’ if they win the Europa League – despite £85m windfall for beating Tottenham in final
Man United head into next Wednesday’s Europa League final knowing that victory over Tottenham would give them a triumphant end to a miserable season, a ticket to the Champions League and an estimated dividend of £85million.
The club are in desperate need of something to cheer after a dismal Premier League campaign which has included 17 defeats and sees them just two places above the relegation spots in 16th.
Lifting the Europa League in Bilbao would go some way to atoning for that form and give their supporters cause to celebrate.
In March, Newcastle marked their first piece of domestic silverware since 1970 with a raucous bus parade through the city centre. Liverpool will do likewise on May 26 to celebrate their Premier League triumph.
However, according to reports, Man United plan commemorate their potential trophy win with a low-key barbeque at the club’s Carrington training ground which is undergoing major building works.
Lifting the Europa League would be worth an estimated £85m to Ruben Amorim’s Man United
Newcastle held a raucous bus parade through the city centre after their League Cup triumph
The last time Man United held a parade was in 2013 to mark the club’s 20th top-flight title
The Times are reporting that Old Trafford chiefs have decided that the club’s schedule would make an open-top bus parade through Manchester unviable.
Ruben Amorim’s men face Aston Villa in the league four days after their final with the whole first-team flying off on a post-season tour to Asia straight afterwards.
They play in Kuala Lumpur on May 28 before another game in Hong Kong on May 30 and then the players will need to report straight for international duty.
Tottenham, on the other hand, are expected to go ahead with a parade should they win their first piece of silverware since the 2008 League Cup. That would take place before their final league game of the season against Brighton.
It is the latest party-pooping news from Old Trafford after Mail Sport revealed last week that the club would not be handing free tickets to staff for final. United are holding a ballot with a small number of tickets available for their staff.
For the majority, they are hosting a screening in Manchester with the invite open to plus-ones. Mail Sport understands the member of staff will be given two free drinks, while their guests will have to pay for theirs.
The last time Man United had an open-top bus parade was in 2013 to mark the club’s 20th top-flight title and Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. That year an estimated 100,000 people lined the streets to celebrate their success.
